cothurnus

[koh-thur-nuh s] /koʊˈθɜr nəs/
noun, plural cothurni
[koh-thur-nahy] /koʊˈθɜr naɪ/ (Show IPA)
1.
a grave and elevated style of acting; tragic acting; tragedy.
2.
buskin (def 2).
Also, cothurn
[koh-thurn, koh-thurn] /ˈkoʊ θɜrn, koʊˈθɜrn/ (Show IPA)
.
Origin
1720-30; < Latin < Greek kóthornos buskin, type of boot worn by tragic actors in heroic roles
Related forms
cothurnal, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for cothurnus

cothurnus

/kəʊˈθɜːnəs/
noun (pl) -thurni (-ˈθɜːnaɪ), -thurns
1.
the buskin worn in ancient Greek tragedy
Word Origin
C18: from Latin, from Greek kothornos