buskin
pronunciation
How to pronounce buskin in British English:
UK ['bʌskɪn]
How to pronounce buskin in American English:
US ['bʌskɪn]
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- Noun:
- a boot reaching halfway up to the knee
Word Origin
- buskin (n.)
- "half boot," c. 1500, origin unknown. The word exists in different forms in most of the continental languages, and the exact relationship of them all apparently has yet to be determined. The English word is perhaps immediately from Old French broissequin "buskin; a kind of cloth" (14c., Modern French brodequin by influence of broder "to embroider"), or from Middle Dutch brosekin "small leather boot," which is of uncertain origin. OED suggests a likely candidate in Spanish borcegui, earlier boszegui Figurative senses in English relating to tragedy are from the word being used (since mid-16c.) to translate Greek kothurnus, the high, thick-soled boot worn in Athenian tragedy; contrasted with sock, the low shoe worn by comedians. Related: Buskined.
Example
- 1. He . Knew all niceties of the sock and buskin ( byron )
- 2. Wearing the buskin gave the athenian tragic actor a larger-than-life appearance and enhanced the intensity of the play .