[f. SPATTER v. + DASH v. Cf. SPATTER-LASH, -PLASH, and the dial. splatter-, spattle-dash(er).] A kind of long gaiter or legging of leather, cloth, etc., to keep the trousers or stockings from being spattered, esp. in riding. Chiefly in pl.
sing. 1687. E. Ravenscroft, Long Vac., Prol. to Titus Andronicus. Prepare to gallop down on Smithfield Titts, Equip’d with the Heel-Spur and Spatter dash.
1756. Toldervy, Hist. 2 Orphans, III. 122. He generally left his stall,… which one day caused him the loss of two pair of breeches, and a spatterdash.
1778. Sheridan, Camp, I. ii. There’s a leg for a spatterdash.
1841. Borrow, Zincali, I. v. The legs are protected … by a species of spatterdash, either of cloth or leather.
pl. 1687. [see SPATTER-LASH].
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, IV. xii. The porter soon found him out, by his large greasy spatterdashes, his … hollow flanked mare [etc.]. Ibid., xxxii. Cows Leather Spatter-dashes.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 151. I had … made me a Pair of some-things … to flap over my Legs, and lace on either Side like Spatter-dashes.
1746. in Rep. Comm. Ho. Commons, II. 99. (Land Forces), Haversacks,… Frocks to go over the Mens Cloaths, Spatterdashes, and Watering Caps.
1777. W. Dalrymple, Trav. Sp. & Port., xliii. His waistcoat and breeches are generally leather, with a pair of cloth spatterdashes on his legs.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 358. Dressed in a man’s hat, a cloth overcoat, and spatterdashes.
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt. IV. viii. (1872), II. 20. This done, he shall as rapidly as possible get on his shoes and spatterdashes.
b. Comb., as spatterdash-maker, -making.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1902), 30. His talents of drum-beating and spatterdash-making.
1905. Westm. Gaz., 1 April, 3/1. La Fleur,… ex-drummer and spatterdash-maker.
