cothurn

C3O1T1H4U1R1N1
/ˈkɒθə(ɹ)n/

noun

A buskin anciently worn by tragic actors on the stage.

OriginLatin cothurnus ← Ancient Greek κόθορνος →
Scrabble 12
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Meanings

nouncothurn (plural cothurns)

plural cothurns

  1. A buskin anciently worn by tragic actors on the stage.

    The moment had arrived when it was thought that the mask and the cothurn might again be assumed with effect.

    1856, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
buskin

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκόθορνος
  2. Latincothurnus
  3. Englishcothurn

From Latin cothurnus, from Ancient Greek κόθορνος (kóthornos). Compare cothurnus.

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

cothurn. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cothurn

MLA

“cothurn.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cothurn. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cothurn,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cothurn.

Source: cothurn on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.