Posted inArtifacts Spats February 26, 2023 Spats. A shortening of the word “spatterdashes,” spats are a type of classic Victorian footwear accessory for outdoor wear, covering the instep and the ankle and acting as spatter guards from rain, gravel, and mud. Reprinted with permission of the Royal Navy Museum. See also Special Section of By Sea, By Land book (P. 401-16). PRINT