Dear etaoin: the only reason I posted the word was that few of us have not worn sneakers or the current vastly improved athletic shoes, but I'll bet I'm the only member who ever hear the word. Just because my brother worked for U.S.Rubber at footware plant in Naugatuck,Connecticut.
Incidentally, how times have changed. He was lucky to get job before he graduated, and started at thirty bucks a week
in 1935.