Spats

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of short, decorative covering worn over the instep and ankle of shoes; a quarrel or argument between individuals, often trivial in nature; a sudden occurrence or flurry of activity, often associated with a dispute or disagreement in social settings
2. A fashion accessory that adorns shoes and provides protection; a light-hearted or petty conflict that arises in conversation or interaction; a brief and lively exchange marked by disagreement or contention
3. Footwear embellishments that enhance style while shielding from dirt; a minor skirmish or petty dispute often arising in friendships; a quick burst of disagreement or altercation in a social context

Etymology: Spats began life as a longer word. "Spatterdashes" was the name for a pair of gaiters, leather or cloth coverings buttoned over the shoe and ankle to keep mud and wet from splashing up onto the legs. The name came from "spatter," to scatter or splash liquid, combined with "dash," a word for a splash of liquid, and the clipped form "spats" simply kept the first syllable of the older compound. The garment's job was practical: it protected the trouser hem and the stocking from the muck of unpaved roads. Over time the shorter word shifted to the smaller, fashionable covering over the instep, which is the sense most people know today. The other senses of the word are separate developments, not extensions of the footwear meaning. The sense of a petty quarrel is a figurative use built on the idea of a brief burst of splashing or flaring up, and the sense of a sudden flurry of activity follows the same pattern of a short, sharp outbreak.

Synonyms: arguments, disagreements, quarrels, tiffs, squabbles