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- DictionaryGum·shoe/ˈɡəmˌSHo͞o/
noun
- 1. a detective: informal North American "he'd been intrigued enough to put a gumshoe on the case"
Noun. Hm! What saves the day is a combination of technological tools of widely varying vintages, good old gumshoe detective work, and Elsbeth’s trademark intuitive leaps. Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 9 May 2024 Although much of the establishment has been left wringing its hands about what to do—how to ferret out fake news and those who ...
a detective or one who moves about stealthily. slang. a stealthy action or movement. verb. slang. intr to act stealthily. Discover More. Word History and Origins. Origin of gumshoe 1. An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; gum 1 + shoe. Discover More. Example Sentences.
When you wear gumshoes, you're pulling on waterproof galoshes over your regular footwear. If you are a gumshoe, on the other hand, you're a private detective, investigating a case.
Jul 18, 2012 · Originally, gumshoe referred to a shoe with a rubber sole, specifically, galoshes or (more relevant to our purposes) sneakers. The senses of gumshoe leading to the 'private detective' sense all have to do with the idea that rubber-soled shoes give the wearer the ability to walk stealthily.
GUMSHOE definition: 1. informal for detective (= someone whose job is to discover facts about a crime) 2. informal for…. Learn more.
GUMSHOE meaning: 1. informal for detective (= someone whose job is to discover facts about a crime) 2. informal for…. Learn more.
All you need to know about "GUMSHOE" in one place: definitions, pronunciations, synonyms, grammar insights, collocations, examples, and translations.
noun. 1. a waterproof overshoe. 2. US and Canadian. a rubber-soled shoe. 3. US and Canadian slang. a detective or one who moves about stealthily. 4. US and Canadian slang. a stealthy action or movement. verb Word forms: -shoes, -shoeing, -shoed. 5. (intransitive) US and Canadian slang. to act stealthily. Collins English Dictionary.
What does the noun gumshoe mean? There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun gumshoe . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
When someone refers to a detective or police officer, they sometimes use the term 'gumshoe'. Where did this term originate from?