kothornoi (κόθορνοι) : koh-THAWR-noi

(Greek; sing. kothornos: high boots) Soft, knee-length, lace-up boots; worn by hunters and soldiers in Ancient Greece to protect lower legs; kothornoi with thick soles were worn by actors to enhance their height. Although thick soled boots were associated with the theatre, the word kothornoi was a general term; The Oxford Companioun to Ancient Greek Political Thought uses the word simply to describe boots that could be worn on either foot; corresponds to Latin cothurni, sing. cothurnus; corresponds to European buskin.