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

Plus, for more intense hikes (or just those who like to stay clean), there is an easy attach point for gaiters that works like a charm, and there’s also a wide toe box for a roomy but not oversized feel. — Jack Collins, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026

Today, a typical historic men’s costume, consisting of a coat, vest, breeches, neckwear, and gaiters, can cost a reenactor around $3,000. — Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 2026

At these protests, Patriot Front members wear matching chino pants, blue button-down shirts and white face gaiters. — Will Carless, USA Today, 4 June 2026

The cooling towels and gaiter are made with the same technology for body cooling, too. — Tory Johnson, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026

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