Chaps (pronounced
shaps)
is a shortened form of the word
cha·pa·ra·jos (pronounced shap-uh-
rey-ohs) which in turn is a combination of the Spanish
word
chaparral (pronounced shap-uh-ral): a type of scrub brush that grows
in California and aparejos (ah-pa-rey-ohs): the Spanish word for Aparrel. Mexicans who worked cattle on the California
landscape needed protection from the tough and often thorny brush they would
encounter. Chaps consist of a belt and
leggings made of leather, but have no seat and are not joined at the crotch. There are two designs: Shotgun and
Batwing. Shotgun Chaps enclose the
entire leg, while Batwing Chaps only attach at the thigh providing easier leg
movement for active riding.
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| Shotgun Chaps |
