An old slang term for a detective or investigator (police-affiliated or private). Variants include "dick" or "private dick," the connotations of which were not meant to be obscene.

Shoes in the late 1800s were made of gum rubber - the soft-soled precursors of the modern sneaker. The phrase "to gumshoe" meant to sneak around quietly as if wearing gumshoes.

"Gumshoe man" was originally slang for "thief," but by about 1908 the term "gumshoe" was used to refer to a police detective, and the term has stuck ever since (pun intended).

Gumshoes are a version of gumboots (also known as wellingtons, wellies, or rain boots) that are shorter in length and resemble more of a shoe than a boot. They are designed to keep the foot dry in wet conditions that are mild rather than harsh.

A detective or priate investigator.

Slang; Detective. Someone who spends excessive time investigating "criminal activity"

1. a rubber soled shoe or a rubber boot

2. a detective

3. a police officer

4. to walk stealthily

a person who is a want-a-be detective. they will ask alot of dumb ass questions to use the info aginst you at a later date.

One who doesn't have much going too much going on upstairs.........