cothurnus

noun

co·​thur·​nus kō-ˈthər-nəs How to pronounce cothurnus (audio)
plural cothurni kō-ˈthər-ˌnī How to pronounce cothurnus (audio)
-(ˌ)nē
1
or less commonly cothurn
ˈkō-ˌthərn How to pronounce cothurnus (audio)
kō-ˈthərn
 : a high thick-soled laced boot worn by actors in Greek and Roman tragic drama
2
: the dignified somewhat stilted style of ancient tragedy

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek kothornos

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cothurnus was in 1606

Dictionary Entries Near cothurnus

cothurnal

cothurnus

cotidal

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Cothurnus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cothurnus. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cothurnus

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