A gaiter is a type of protective leg covering for the ankle. Despite its similarity in spelling and meaning, the word actually originates from the French word guetre, meaning “legging” and was originally associated with peasant attire in the eighteenth century. The French word is believed to have derived from the Old French word wrist, which translates to “instep” and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word wristiz, with connotations of turning, which is also the root of the English word wrist. Interestingly, the word gaiter has evolved to include variations like neck gaiters and wrist gaiters, expanding its original definition.
