cothurnus

The term cothurnus refers to a high, thick-soled boot worn by actors in ancient Greek and Roman tragic dramas. This footwear is also associated with a dignified, somewhat stilted style characteristic of ancient tragedy. The word "cothurnus" is derived from the Greek word kothornos.1

The related adjective, cothurnal, means pertaining to the cothurnus or tragedy. In theater, the cothurnus is contrasted with the sock, which was the footwear worn by actors in comedies. The term "buskin" is synonymous with the cothurnus and also signifies tragedy itself.23