Why are they called sneakers?

Answer 1

The word sneaker was actually invented when a German man named Angoviele Journer was tired of walking around in his hard wooden bottomed shoes. Just as he was deciding how to fix this problem his cat walked in without him noticing. Angered by the quietness of the cat he stepped on the small animal. He was so angry that the cat had been sneaking around in his office without him knowing it that he decided to wear the cat as a pair of shoes. He then exclaimed "I guess humans are the sneakers now!" giving soft bottom shoes the name sneakers. Some Germans today still wear cats for their shoes.

• The answer above me is rubbish. I am still trying to figure out the thought process behind it... They aren't called sneakers everywhere. In some places they're called trainers. Sometimes Tennies. Others they may be called Takkies. I think some places call them treads. I suppose it's just because you use your feet to 'sneak' and to 'tread'. I guess trainers are called as such you are 'trained' to walk... I dunno. They're called 'tennies' as an abbreviation of 'tennis shoes'. I can't understand why they call them 'Takkies' though.

• The correct term for sneakers is 'Tennis Shoes'

I believe they are called sneakers because detectives were once called "sneakers" and wore "gumshoes"- or shoes that had a softer sole that enabled them to sneak around without having their footsteps heard. I think sneakers is another word for gumshoes.

Answer 2

to go on your feet to prevent them getting wet and dirty