2006-06-25 00:00:45 · 6 answers · asked by brendanconnal 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Beat cops were called flatfoots. Used to be far less cop cruisers and much more foot patrols. Walking 8+ hours in crappy shoes causes fallen arches, AKA flat foot, and thus, a cop was called a flatfoot because very often that's what he had!
Gumshoe was a rubber overshoe, made from gum rubber, prevalent in the late 19th century. It was also a shoe heel material.
Both are derogatory terms going back to the early 20th century. If you referred to a policeman as a flatfoot, you might have been asking for a taste of his billy stick.
Gumshoe has a bit more history. It began as a saying that meant to sneak around by walking quietly -- to "gumshoe around." At first, robbers and burglars were called gumshoes, then later the term got stuck on cops.
2006-06-25 00:19:23 · answer #1 · answered by he's gone 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
in the 20s and 30s walking shoes were made with a soft gum sole to provide comfort. since detectives did a lot of walking chasing down leads they often wore these shoes.
similarly the were called flatfoots for all the walking they did.
2006-06-25 07:02:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gumshoes. Flatfoots could be policemen.
2006-06-25 07:02:29 · answer #3 · answered by J9 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmm! the gaunt man looks down at the detectives large FLAT FEET, which are imprisoned in two old scar torn GUMSHOES,
johnny, johnny, wake up,
OH! MY GOD I WAS HAVING A NIGHTMARE.
2006-06-25 07:05:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they walk a lot when they're snooping around. So their feet go flat. (and they get a lot of gum stuck to their souls, oops soles)
2006-06-25 12:06:12 · answer #5 · answered by Jayne 2 (LMHJJ) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People on acid and drugs made it up and it is all in your head, nothing exists.
2006-06-25 07:02:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋