buskin

buskin
/bus"kin/, n.
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. Cf. sock1 (def. 3).
5. the art of acting, esp. tragic acting.
6. a woman's low-cut shoe with elastic gores at the sides of the instep, popular in the early 20th century.
[1495-1505; prob. alter. of MF bro(u)sequin, of uncert. orig.]

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boot
      a thick-soled boot worn by actors in ancient Greek tragedies. Because of the association, the term has come to mean tragedy. It is contrasted with sock, which refers to the foot covering worn by actors in comedies. The word is probably a modification of the Middle French brouzequin, “a kind of foot covering.”

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Universalium. 2010.

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Synonyms:
(especially one with high soles, worn by the ancient tragedians) / ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Buskin — Bus kin, n. [Prob. from OF. brossequin, or D. broosken. See {Brodekin}.] 1. A strong, protecting covering for the foot, coming some distance up the leg. [1913 Webster] The hunted red deer s undressed hide Their hairy buskins well supplied. Sir W …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • buskin — half boot, c.1500, origin unknown, perhaps from O.Fr. brousequin (14c., Mod.Fr. brodequin, by influence of broder to embroider ) or M.Du. brosekin small leather boot. Figurative senses relating to tragedy are from the word being used (since mid… …   Etymology dictionary

  • buskin — [bus′kin] n. [< ? OFr broissequin < MDu brosekin, small leather boot] 1. a boot reaching to the calf or knee, worn in earlier times; esp., the high, thick soled, laced boot worn by actors in ancient Greek and Roman tragedy 2. tragic drama;… …   English World dictionary

  • Buskin — This article is about the ancient boot. For the Roman Catholic liturgical stockings, see Episcopal sandals. Buskins A buskin is a knee or calf length boot made of leather or cloth which laces closed, but is open across the toes. It was worn by… …   Wikipedia

  • buskin — noun historical a calf high or knee high boot. ↘a thick soled laced boot worn by an ancient Athenian tragic actor to gain height. ↘(the buskin) the style or spirit of tragic drama. Derivatives buskined adjective Origin C16: prob. from OFr.… …   English new terms dictionary

  • buskin — noun Etymology: probably modification of Middle French brozequin Date: 1503 1. a laced boot reaching halfway or more to the knee 2. a. cothurnus 1 b. tragedy; especially tragedy resembling that of …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • buskin — noun /ˈbʌskɪn/ a) A half boot. With this knife also, he will joynt a Deere, or any beast, shape his shooes, buskins, mantels, etc. b) A type of boot worn by the ancient Athenian tragic actors; tragic drama, tragedy. Isaac, relieved of one half of …   Wiktionary

  • BUSKIN —    a kind of half boot worn after the custom of hunters as part of the costume of actors in tragedy on the ancient Roman stage, and a synonym for tragedy …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • buskin — bus·kin || bÊŒskɪn n. high Greek sandal; boot (Archaic) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • buskin — n. 1. Half boot (especially one with high soles, worn by the ancient tragedians). 2. Tragedy, tragic drama …   New dictionary of synonyms

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