- I gotta buy me some new kicks.
kicks
noun; zero derivation
shoes This term is no longer indicative of a single group and thus is unlikely to have developed as a social shibboleth. This form, however, seems to have a good deal of covert prestige among young people of Michigan and elsewhere. The use of this word likely arose out of a deisre for newer or more innovative form, particularly to have a word fot foot attire with minimal fomality. It is a common term to refer to shoes but I have not encountered anyone at Rice who uses it.
Etymology : a metonymical expansion of the action of kicking into a term for a piece of clothing with which that action is closely associated i.e. shoes. Zero derivation is changing the verb into a noun with identical spelling, but new meaning.
Source : Encountered in common conversation with friends.
Last modified: 10 June 2008