Why are pumps called pumps?

The exact reason why pumps are called pumps isn't known. Historians believe that the term emerged during the 1500s in England and originally referred to any shoes that lacked laces and buckles. It may have come from the English word pomp, meaning stylish or showy. Another theory is that the name comes from the sound that these types of shoes make when people walk across hard flooring while wearing them. Explore a large collection of pumps on 1stDibs.