cothurnus

noun

co·​thur·​nus kō-ˈthər-nəs 

plural cothurni kō-ˈthər-ˌnī 

-(ˌ)nē

1

or less commonly cothurn

ˈkō-ˌthərn 

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