gaiter

noun

gai·​ter ˈgā-tər 

plural gaiters

1

: a cloth or leather leg covering reaching from the instep to above the ankle or to mid-calf or knee

2

a

: an overshoe with fabric upper

b

: an ankle-high shoe with elastic gores in the sides

3

: a fabric covering in the form of a closed loop worn around the neck that can extend to cover the lower part of the face : neck gaiter

If associates wish to wear their own mask or personal covering, it must be clean and cover their nose and mouth. Alternatives might include a scarf, bandana or a gaiter.

—Zak Failla

We were masked with bandannas and hats and ski gaiters pulled up past our noses …

—Kristen Millares Young

Examples of gaiter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dragoons followed in leather breeches and woolen gaiters, dismounted for the moment but hopeful of finding American horses ahead. —/ Cbs News, CBS News, 13 June 2025

One surprisingly practical accessory to pack for an Antarctic expedition is a gaiter. —Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2025

Even as Covid-19 waned, some officers kept the gaiters as an optional face covering, especially when confronted by members of the public recording video. —Martin Kaste, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025

Leather gaiters transformed ankle boots into knee-high or thigh-high styles. —Lily Templeton, WWD, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French guêtre, going back to Middle French guiestres (plural), probably going back to a metathetical variant of Old Low Franconian *wrist- "ankle joint," going back to Germanic *wrih-sti- (whence Middle High German rist, riste "wrist or ankle joint," Old English wrist "wrist joint") — more at wrist

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gaiter

• neck gaiter

Rhymes for gaiter

• cater
• crater
• frater
• freighter
• gator
• grater
• greater
• hater
• krater
• later
• plater
• prater

Kids Definition

gaiter

noun

gai·​ter ˈgāt-ər 

: a leg covering reaching from the instep to above the ankle or to mid-calf or knee