Showed contempt for gaiter (4)
I believe the answer is:
spat
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'showed contempt' is the first definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'for gaiter' is the second definition.
(synonyms)
(Other definitions for spat that I've seen before include "A minor dispute or row" , "Showed contempt" , "Observed" , "Minor argument" , "Trivial quarrel" .)