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.

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cothurnus British  

/ kəʊˈθɜːnəs, ˈkəʊθɜːn, kəʊˈθɜːn /

noun

1. the buskin worn in ancient Greek tragedy

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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

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

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

Voltaire, however, is without excuse, as the mention of the cothurnus leaves no doubt that he alluded to tragic masks.

From Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature by Black, John

But is it just to exact the severity of the tragical cothurnus in light works of this description?

From Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature by Black, John

The tragic actors wore the crepida, corresponding to the cothurnus, and a heavy toga, which in the praetexta had the purple border giving its name to the species.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 6 "Dodwell" to "Drama" by Various