Etymology

gumshoe

G2U1M3S1H4O1E1

Today it means: A sneaker or rubber overshoe. Full definition →

First used mid 19th c.
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The story

From gum + shoe.

First known use, by meaning

  • from mid 19th c. A sneaker or rubber overshoe.
  • from early 20th c. A detective.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.