Why do we call policemen “cops”? Around the turn of the century, policemen walking the beat wore heavy boots with copper toe tips for kicking things like doors & barrels. Hence our word “cop” for the copper toes. “Gumshoe” is a word for detective. Turn-of-the-century cops & detectives wore heavy boots with gum-rubber soles to ease foot strain. The muffled sound translated to “gumshoe”.
The Christmas season means big business for footwear retailers, & they can thank an old Flemish custom. Centuries ago, the Flemish called the Yuletide season Sankt Klaus after St. Nicholas, patron saint of children. On the eve of his birthday, children placed fruit & carrots in their wooded shoes for his white horse. Next morning, in return for the favor, they’d find candy & toys in their sabots. So began the Yuletide gift-giving custom & the hanging of Christmas stockings.