Chaps

Chaparreras or chaps () are a type of sturdy over-pants (overalls) or leggings that developed in Mexico from earlier Spanish equestrian and ranching traditions brought to America during the colonial era. Chaps are made of leather, without a seat, made up of two separate legs that are fastened to the waist with straps or belt. They are worn over trousers and were originally intended for protecting the rider from the rain and mud, and from tears and injuries. They were created to replace armas de agua (water shields) or simply armas (shields), a set of leather flaps that hung from the Mexican saddle to protect the rider's legs from the rain. The word "chaparreras" is believed to have come from either “chaparrón”, a cloudburst or sudden, heavy rain, or from “chaparros”, a Mexican colloquial name for brush and a type of shrub. Due to the difficult pronunciation, Americans shortened the word to Chaps, originally spelled and pronounced schaps or shaps. Chivarras, from chivo (goat), is the name for chaparreras made of goatskins tanned with the hair on.

There were other similar garments worn by Mexican riders, including botas huastecas, a set of wide leggings of pre-Hispanic origin used in the lowlands along the Gulf of Mexico, mitazas, leggings that were similar to Chaparreras but were not attached to the waist, only reaching up to the thigh, and the cuadrilera, a small apron that predates chaparreras, made of leather that only covered the hip and part of the thigh, that was used for roping.

In the modern world, they are worn for both practical work purposes and for exhibition or show use. Chaparreras or chaps have also been adopted for use on motorcycles, particularly by cruiser-style motorcycle riders.