cothurnus

American  

[koh-thur-nuhs] / koʊˈθɜr nəs /

Also cothurn

noun

plural

cothurni

1. a grave and elevated style of acting; tragic acting; tragedy.

2. buskin.

---

cothurnus British  

/ kəʊˈθɜːnəs, ˈkəʊθɜːn, kəʊˈθɜːn /

noun

1. the buskin worn in ancient Greek tragedy

---

Other Word Forms

• cothurnal adjective

Etymology

Origin of cothurnus

1720–30; < Latin < Greek kóthornos buskin, type of boot worn by tragic actors in heroic roles

Example Sentences

Like the Greek actor before masks were invented, the Chinese actor paints his face, and the thick-soled boot which raises the Chinese tragedian from the ground is very much the counterpart of the cothurnus.

From China and the Chinese by Giles, Herbert Allen

He wore breeches or drawers, reaching to the knees, and his feet and the lower part of the leg were covered with the cothurnus, a sort of traveller's half-boot.

From The Legendary and Poetical Remains of John Roby author of 'Traditions of Lancashire', with a sketch of his literary life and character by Roby, John

But, besides the cothurnus, you have heard of the mask.

From Note Book of an English Opium-Eater by De Quincey, Thomas

Some of the quiet characters away from the centre of great affairs are as well worth our attention as those who in high-heeled cothurnus stalk across the foreground.

From Critical Miscellanies (Vol. 3 of 3) Essay 7: W.R. Greg: A Sketch by Morley, John

They never speak except ore rotundo, in cothurnus, or sometimes on stilts.

From Amiel's Journal by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.