transitive. ? To repair (a boot) with new upper leather, to vamp.

transitive. To furnish (shoes) with welts; to repair or renew the welts of.

transitive. To patch, mend, or repair (shoes, clogs, etc.) with ‘spetches’; to patch (a garment) with cloth.

transitive. To patch or mend (shoes) with ‘specks’.

transitive. dialect and U.S. To add a thickness of leather to the sole or heel of (a shoe) in repairing; cf. tap, n.2 3. Also absol.

transitive. To strengthen or repair (a boot or shoe) by adding a piece of leather or other material to the heel. Also figurative.

transitive. To repair (boots or shoes) by renewing the upper leather; also to ornament (the upper of a shoe) with a strip of leather.

transitive. To provide (a boot, shoe, etc.) with a new sole.

transitive. To replace the foot of (a boot, stocking, etc.).

to repair with a tap-piece.