What are spats?

What are spats? Are they like garters for men’s socks?

a cloth covering (a legging) that provides covering for the instep and ankles

From Cognitive Science Laboratory.

Worn over your shoes, unless you’re [url=http://www.mister-ed.tv/Scrooge%20McDuck’s%20Photo%20Album_files/images/No_31_jpg.jpg]Scrooge McDuck[.url].

The spat, or “spatterdash,” was a protective shoe covering, dating back to the 1600s, fasahionable nearly up to WWII.

Whoops