spats

S1P3A1T1S1
/spæts/

noun

A stiff legging worn over the instep and ankles of a shoe.

Opposite
featherfeathersfeatheringhorsefeathers
UncommonScrabble 7
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Meanings

nounspats pl (plural only)
  1. pluralplural onlyA stiff legging worn over the instep and ankles of a shoe.
  2. pluralplural onlyA similar device for horses.
  3. pluralplural onlyLong hair on front of lower legs of heavier horses (over the hooves), especially draft horses, notably the Clydesdale breed.

    Antonyms: feather, feathers, feathering, horsefeathers

  4. pluralplural onlyForm-fitting shorts covering the waist to mid- or lower thigh usually worn for athletic events; compression shorts.
noun
  1. pluralplural of spat
verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of spat

Synonyms & antonyms

nounLong hair on front of lower legs of heavier horses (over the hooves), especially draft horses, notably the Clydesdale breed.

Opposite
featherfeathersfeatheringhorsefeathers
Also see
compression shorts

Origin

Clipping of spatterdashes.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with spats

statscatsratsbatschatsKatzlatsSchatzthat's
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

spats. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spats

MLA

“spats.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spats. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “spats,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spats.

Source: spats on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.