buskin

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a soft boot reaching to the calf or knee, often laced up the front

   The traveler tightened each leather buskin before beginning the climb.

2. 2
   noun

   historical: a thick-soled boot worn by actors in ancient Greek tragedy

   The tragic actor's buskin made him appear taller on the open stage.

From Middle English buskin, probably through Old French bousequin or brousequin and perhaps from Middle Dutch broseken. The deeper origin is uncertain. Its association with the elevated boot of tragic actors later made buskin a literary symbol of tragedy.

Topics