Spatterdash
/ˈspæt.ər.dæʃ/noun
A protective covering for the lower leg or shoe, or a light waterproof overshoe.
Did you know?Spatterdash is a real English word, but its origin is uncertain; it likely arose as a vivid sound-symbolic name for something that kept mud from being “spattered” onto clothing.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
spatterdash
“A covering for the lower leg or shoe, especially to keep mud off clothing.”
Early Modern English
English
spatter
“To scatter in drops or particles; to splash mud or liquid about.”
Early Modern English
English
dash
“To strike or throw violently; later used in forming expressive compounds.”
Uncertain
English
spatterdash
“A likely expressive compound built from vivid sound-imitation rather than a securely traceable older root.”