buskin

American  

[buhs-kin] / ˈbʌs kɪn /

noun

1. a thick-soled, laced boot or half boot.

2. Also called cothurnus.  the high, thick-soled shoe worn by ancient Greek and Roman tragedians.

3. buskins, stockings decorated with gold thread worn by a bishop at a Pontifical Mass.

4. tragic drama; tragedy.

5. the art of acting, especially tragic acting.

6. a woman's low-cut shoe with elastic gores at the sides of the instep, popular in the early 20th century.

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buskin British  

/ ˈbʌskɪn /

noun

1. (formerly) a sandal-like covering for the foot and leg, reaching the calf and usually laced

2. Also called: cothurnus.  a thick-soled laced half boot resembling this, worn esp by actors of ancient Greece

3. literary tragic drama

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Etymology

Origin of buskin

1495–1505; probably alteration of Middle French bro ( u ) sequin, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

buskin

Jack Dempsey, conqueree of Gene Tunney, left the realm of sock for the Manhattan world of buskin last week.

From Time Magazine Archive

Buskin & Sock Sirs: In my study of drama, I find the buskin, or boot, signifies a tragedy; and the sock, similar to a light moccasin, denotes a comedy.

From Time Magazine Archive

She traced her fingers over the sock and buskin masks—one sad, tragic face and one happy, comedic one—waiting for the door to open.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

The buskin was the Greek cothurnus, a boot with high heels, designed to add stature and dignity to the tragic actor.

From Six Centuries of English Poetry Tennyson to Chaucer by James Baldwin

Such were the earliest attempts of our dramatic representations; but men must tread with naked feet before they put on the sock and buskin.

From Amenities of Literature Consisting of Sketches and Characters of English Literature by Isaac Disraeli