/bus"kin/ , n.
1. a thick-soled, laced boot or half boot.
2. Also called cothurnus . the high, thick-soled shoe worn by ancient Greek and Roman tragedians.
3. buskins , stockings decorated with gold thread worn by a bishop at a Pontifical Mass.
4. tragic drama; tragedy. Cf. sock 1 (def. 3).
5. the art of acting, esp. tragic acting.
6. a woman's low-cut shoe with elastic gores at the sides of the instep, popular in the early 20th century.
[ 1495-1505; prob. alter. of MF bro ( u ) sequin, of uncert. orig. ]