18th Century Gaiters & Spatterdashes
The New World of Words, or Universal English Dictionary (1706) says that Spatter-daſhes or Spatter-plaſhes are “a ſort of light Boots, without Soles,” while A Dictionary of the English Language (1775) defines spatterdaſhes as “coverings for the legs” (further suggesting the words gambade and gambado as synonyms). A Law Dictionary (1708), on the other hand, provides more distinguished language: “Huſeans, Of the French Houſeau, i. ocrea, a kind of Boot, or ſomewhat made of courſe Cloth, and worn over the Stocking; a Busking, or as the vulgar call it a Spatterdaſh.”
The word gaiters seems to be the term used more often for leg-coverings worn by soldiers, as in this verse from “A Soldier, A Soldier for Me”:
Trade Cards of Spatterdash-Makers
These trade cards tell potential customers how to measure their legs if they want to send in an order for custom-fitted spatterdashes.
Spatterdashes also appear on trade cards for shoemakers, such as Thomas Coe, Metcalfe Johnson, and Timothy Smith.
© The Trustees of the British Museum. Shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) licence.
Extant examples
NT 1349377.1/1349377.2, brown suede with seam lines trimmed with brown leather, decorated with brown leather and fastened with metal buttons, possibly Spanish, 17th century
MFA 43.1704a-b, brown leather with appliquéd decorative sections backstitched with white cotton, western European, 18th century
MFA 43.1712a-b, brown leather with appliquéd decorative sections, western Europe, 18th century
A pair of original Prussian army gaiters, c. 1786
Bonhams Sep 26 2012, Lot 219, white linen spatterdashes with 28 blackened bone buttons and white wool spatterdashes with 9 wool-covered buttons, late 18th to early 19th century
NT 1349374.1/1349374.2, Holland partially lined with linen and fastening with self-covered buttons, c. 1800-1815
NT 1349376.1/1349376.2, buckskin fastening with metal and bone buttons, which have been moved to make the gaiters larger, c. 1800-1815
Met 1978.85.3a, b, a pair of cotton and linen gaiters with horn buttons, British, 1805-1810
Spatterdashes in agricultural & rural contexts, including farmers & yokels
A Scene near Cox Heath, or the Enraged Farmer, 1779
Paternal Love by Étienne Aubry
Lady Gorget raising Recruits for Cox-Heath, 1781
The Vicar, 1790
An Ale-house Interior by George Morland, c. 1790
The Ale-House Door by Henry Singleton, c. 1790
Alecto and her train, at the gate of PandæMonium: or The recruiting sarjeant enlisting John-Bull, into the Revolution Service by James Gillray, 1791
A farmer in A long string of resolutions for the new year, 1792
He would be a soldier, or the history of John Bulls warlike expedition, 1793
The Shepherd’s Meal by George Morland, 1793
John Bulls Progress by James Gillray, 1793
The Produce of Industry, after 1793
Affability, 1795
The British butcher, supplying John Bull with a substitute for bread, vide message to Lord Mayor, by James Gillray, 1795
Blindmans-buff, or Too Many for John Bull, by James Gillray, 1795
The wine duty, or the Triumph of Bacchus & Silenus; with John Bulls remonstrance, by James Gillray, 1796
Opening of the Budget; or John Bull giving his Breeches to save his Bacon, by James Gillray, 1796
Le Bonnet-Rouge; or John Bull evading the hat tax, by James Gillray, 1797
Characters in a Village Alehouse, 1797
Gathering firewood by George Morland
The recruiting sergeant offering a tankard of beer by George Morland
Interior of a country inn by George Morland
Winter Landscape by George Morland
Making Hay by George Morland
The Warrener by George Morland
The Severe Steward, or Unfortunate Tenant, by William Redmore Bigg, c. 1800-1801
Peddlers, beggars, & other laborers in spatterdashes
“RUN away the 5th of this Inſtant January … a Servant Man, named Thomas Murry, an Iriſh Man … a Pair of Spatterdaſhes with Braſs Buttons” (The American Weekly Mercury, January 6, 1730)
Lantern seller, lace seller, rat-catcher, a man holding a bell, and a man who sells toy windmills by Edme Bouchardon, c. 1730s
Le rémoleur by Nicolas Bernard Lépicié, 1731
Group of Beggars by Giacomo Ceruti, c. 1737
Covent Garden Market by Balthazar Nebot, 1737 (Tate/Guildhall/Christie’s)
The itinerant handy craftsman, or, Caleb turn’d tinker, 1740
Messengers, shoeblacks, and others in artwork by Jean-Baptiste Tillard, c. 1760
A rescue, or, The tars triumphant, 1768
A Ladies Maid Purchasing a Leek, 1772
“RAN AWAY, last night, from the subscriber, living in Franklin County, Montgomery Township, A NEGRO MAN, named TOM, about 5 feet 9 inches high, 25 years of age; he had on when he went away, a coat, jacket and breeches of white homemade cloth, a pair of white linen spatterdashes and mockisons” (Journal and Advertiser, May 12, 1785)
The Woodman and His Dog by Thomas Barker, c. 1790
(These appear to be cut-down boots; see also this advertisement from Maryland in 1783, describing “a likely mulatto slave named BASIL … had on and took with him … a pair of boot legs, which he has ripped down the legs and laces up in imitation of spatter-dashes”)
Tinker by Franz Feyerabend, 1790
Trappers by George Morland, 1793
Hen committé van koophandel en zeevaart (The committé of commerce and navigation), 1796
Hunters & sportsmen in spatterdashes
Clemens August as a falconer by P. Horemans, c. 1732
The Honourable Iohn West in his shooting Dress, c. 1736
Major John Dade, of Tannington, Suffolk, by Thomas Gainsborough, c. 1755
Shooting pictures by George Stubbs: Two Gentlemen Going a Shooting, with a View of Creswell Crags, Taken on the Spot (c. 1767), Two Gentlemen Shooting (c. 1769), Two Gentlemen Going a Shooting (1768), and A Repose after Shooting (1770)
A hunter loading his gun, 1775
“WOOD, Spatterdaſh and Gaiter-maker to his Majeſty’s Forces, at the Golden Horſe, Old Round Court, Strand, begs Leave to acquaint the Nobility, Gentry, and Officers in particular, they may be ſupplied with any Kind of Spatterdaſhes and Gaiters either for Riding, Shooting, or Military Uſe. Spring Spatterdaſhes on the beſt conſtruction, and fine Springs. Alſo Boots and Shoes in the preſent Taſte. The above Articles finiſhed in the neateſt and beſt Manner, on the ſhorteſt Notice. N.B. All Sorts of Riding Gaiters for Ladies.” (The Public Advertiser, May 2, 1778)
The Sportsman Resting by George Morland, c. 1790
John Bull bother’d: or the geese alarming the Capitol, by James Gillray, 1792
A flight of sportsmen, alighting in a preserved cover, 1803
Making a Guinea, 1806
Spatterdashes in other civilian contexts
The King Cake by Jean-Baptiste Greuze, 1744
“WHEREAS a Brown HORSE, about 12 or 13 Hands high and his Left Ear ſlit, with a Bridle and Saddle, and a pair of Linen Spatterdaſhes, was left, on the 12th of March laſt, at Wm. Edwards’s …” (The Gloucester Journal, June 19, 1750)
Filial Piety by Jean-Baptiste Greuze, 1763
“The Subſcriber ſome time paſt, (as he ſuppoſes) lent a Pair of Leather Spatterdaſhes with Iron Springs and Spits, the Tops lined with red Morocco Leather; the Spurs were taken off.
The Borrower (if lent) is deſired to return them; but if they were ſtole, a Piſtole Reward will be paid, but the Subſcriber, to any Perſon who will diſcover the Thief, ſo that he may be puniſh’d as the Law directs. William Reynolds.” (Maryland Gazette, October 6, 1763)
“the Body of of a Stranger … had on then an old light-colored ſtrait Great Coat with a ſmall Cape, an old blue Pluſh under Coat with white Metal Buttons, a dark grey cut Wig, light blue ribb’d Stockings, an old Pair of Fuſtian Spatterdaſhes with white metal Buttons, and a Pair of new coarſe heavy Shoes” (The Derby Mercury, December 23, 1768)
The Taylor turn’d Jockey, or goose upon goose, c. 1775-1785
A College Gate, Divines going upon Duty, 1780
The Rake’s Progreſs at the Univerſity, 1806, No 4. and No. 5
Gaiters & spatterdashes in military contexts
Three studies of soldiers carrying rifles by Jean-Antoine Watteau
The [Mitred] Soldier, or the [Church] Militant, c. 1745
The Mitred Champion: or, The Church Militant, c. 1745
“We hear that the Committee of the Guildhall Subſcription have remitted 300 l. One Thouſand Pair of Stockings, and One Thouſand Caps to the Mayor of Newcaſtle, for the Benefit of the ſick Soldiers in thoſe Parts and have alſo order’d a competent Number of Woollen Spatterdaſhes and Caps to be ſent to Dover, for the Uſe of the Centinels there.” (The Weekly Worcester Journal, January 11, 1745)
“DESERTED, on the 25th of February paſt, from Lieutenant Chriſtie, of the Hon. Major-General Blakeney’s Regiment of Foot, recruiting at Eveſham, in Worceſterſhire, EDWARD MAXFIELD … He had on, when he deſerted, a Copper-coloured Coat and Waiſtcoat, with a white Velvet Cape to the Coat, a Pair of Buckskin Breeches with plain white Metal Buttons, blue-grey Worſted Stockings, and a pair of Half-Spatterdaſhes with Metal Buttons; his Hat had been laced, but the Lace taken off, and nothing remains but a Silver Button and a Loop” (The Gloucester Journal, March 3, 1747)
The March of the Guards to Finchley by William Hogarth, 1749-1750
A foot soldier with a musket by Paul Sandby, c. 1750-1760
Paintings by David Morier, especially of Grenadiers
“The Soldier it ſeems had made ſome Spatterdaſhes for the Officer, which he had not paid him for: He one Day took an Opportunity to aſk him for the MOney, perhaps with too little Delicacy, upon which the Officer thought proper to cane him, and use him with Severity” (The Pennsylvania Gazette, October 19, 1752)
Corporal Jones of the 13th Foot by Captain William Baillie, 1753
The Invasion, Plate 2: England by William Hogarth, 1756
Troupes du Roi, Infanterie française et étrangère, année 1757
The Way to Preferment, 1758 (?)
“All the Dragoons are ordered to wear Leather Spatterdaſhes when they are off Duty, in Imitation of the Pruſſians.” (The Ipswitch Journal, January 14, 1758)
The Von Schmalen Prussian Soldier Images: Infantry and Artillery, 1759
Two Thefts in One by Paul Sandby
“DESERTED, at Gloceſter, on Thurſday the 1ſt Inſtant, from Enſign Hall, of the 62d Regiment, commanded by Major-General Strode, RICHARD LAMBETH … having on a light-coloured Coat with Mohair Buttons and a large Collar, a red Waiſtcoat with a black white and and yellow Lace, black Leather Breeches, and grey and white diced Stockings under black Cloth Spatterdaſhes” (The Gloucester Journal, March 5, 1764)
Marquess of Granby relieving a sick soldier by Edward Penny, 1765; additional version here /An officer giving alms to a sick soldier by Edward Penny, c. 1765
The Recruiting Sergeant by John Collet, 1767
Accurate Vorstellung der sämtlichen Koeniglich Preussischen Armee, 1768
James Boswell Esqr. In the Dreſs of an Armed Corſican Chief, 1769
Two Horses of the Regiment by Giuseppe Chiesa, c. 1769-1771
Lady Louisa Lennox with her husband’s regiment, the 25th Regiment of Foot, by Giuseppe Chiesa, c. 1769-1771
The Death of General Wolfe by Benjamin West, 1770
Lord George Lennox, Colonel of the 25th Regiment of Foot, by Giuseppe Chiesa, c. 1771
The ascent to the Round Tower by Paul Sandby, c. 1770
Accurate Vorstellung der sämtlichen Koeniglich Preussischen Armee, 1771
Light Infantry by Matthew Darly, 1772
The Henry VIII Gateway with a view of St. George’s Chapel by Paul Sandby, c. 1775
“A few Days ago a Houſe in Leeds received Orders from Government for 60,000 Yards of coarſe Broad Cloth to be dyed black, for Spatter-Daſhes, for the Uſe of the Army in America; the greateſt Part of which was ſent off on Thurſday and Friday laſt.” The Derby Mercury, September 20, 1776
The Death of General Wolfe by Benjamin West, 1776-1806
A March of the Train Bands, 1777
Drawings of British soldiers by Philip James de Loutherbourg, c. 1778
“WOOD, Spatterdaſh and Gaiter-maker to his Majeſty’s Forces, at the Golden Horſe, Old Round Court, Strand, begs Leave to acquaint the Nobility, Gentry, and Officers in particular, they may be ſupplied with any Kind of Spatterdaſhes and Gaiters either for Riding, Shooting, or Military Uſe. Spring Spatterdaſhes on the beſt conſtruction, and fine Springs. Alſo Boots and Shoes in the preſent Taſte. The above Articles finiſhed in the neateſt and beſt Manner, on the ſhorteſt Notice. N.B. All Sorts of Riding Gaiters for Ladies.” (The Public Advertiser, May 2, 1778)
He wou’d be a Soldier, &c., 1780
Le père absent ou les chagrins de la Guerre (The absent father, or the sorrows of war), c. 1780-1800
Captain Grose’s visiting card with his stick Cuddy by Francis Grose, c. 1788
St. James’s Park by George Morland, c. 1788-1790
The cock of the rock on his charger, 1790
The Soldier’s Return by George Morland, c. 1791
Foot Soldier, c. 1791
Don Hangerando a Lilliputian champion, 1791
Drilling for the Militia, 1792
He would be a soldier, or the history of John Bulls warlike expedition, 1793
A combat between an English soldier and a French soldier by Richard Golding, c. 1794-1820
The Crown & Anchor Libel, burnt by the public hangman, by James Gillray, 1795
“DESERTED, on Saturday the 11th inſtant, from a Party of the Oxfordſhire Militia, RICHARD THOMAS … had on, when he deſerted … a pair of regimental gaters” (Berrow’s Worcester Journal, January 29, 1795)
The Republican Soldier, 1798
Soldiers Cooking, 1798
A Soldier’s Return by George Morland, late 18th century
Forming a Line on the Parade by James Gillray, 1801
Additional Resources
On gaiters, Cuthbertson’s System for the Complete Interior Management and Œconomy of a Battalion of Infantry (1776)
Marines Du Contrecoeur: French Marine Gaiters, ca. 1750
Gaiter Prevalence and Configuration, ca. 1768-83, Being the Utilization of Gaiters, of Half-Gaiters and of Spatterdashes by the Various Battalions of His Majesty’s Guards and Marching Regiments of Foot
Full Gaiters, based on those in Making a Continental Marine Uniform
The Topped Gaiter of 1768
Spatterdashes, or Half Gaiters, adapted from Making a Continental Marine Uniform
A Study of Soldiers’ Lower Legwear in the British and Prussian Armies, 1740-1786
