English Dictionary

buskin

/ˈbʌskɪn/

noun

(historical) A half-boot. / (historical) A type of half-boot with a high heel, worn by the ancient Athenian tragic actors. / (by extension) Tragic drama; tragedy.

She wore a pair of buskins to complete her ancient Greek costume.

意味（1）

(historical) A half-boot.

She, having hong upon a bough on high / Her bow and painted quiver, had unlaste / Her silver buskins from her nimble thigh […]

意味（2）

(historical) A type of half-boot with a high heel, worn by the ancient Athenian tragic actors.

One thing we do know about the staging of Greek plays is that the tragic actors wore buskins on their feet that elevated them several inches above the ground. (They also wore masks.) But the members of the chorus did not wear buskins, though the sometimes wore masks. The comparison between the size of the tragic protagonists, on the one hand, and the members of the chorus, on the other hand, was thus highly significant.

意味（3）

(by extension) Tragic drama; tragedy.

Such an undertaking by no means benefits the low-heeled buskin of modern fiction.

意味（4）

An instrument of torture for the foot; bootikin.