User:Gladlad

Gumshoe is an archaic American slang for a private investigator or detective.

The term "gumshoe" originated circa 1935 when soft rubber or "gum" began to be used in making shoe soles. The silent movement made possible by the soft rubber made these shoes effective in detective work.

A related term is the slang "sneaker(s)", still in common use today for soft-rubber-soled shoes.