Chopine

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /tʃəʊˈpiːn/

Definitions

1. A form of elevated shoe crafted from materials like wood or cork, historically popular among women from the 16th to 18th centuries
2. A stylish piece of footwear characterized by a thick sole, typically made from wood or cork and worn for added height during the past centuries
3. A type of footwear with a high thick sole, traditionally made from wood or cork, that was favored for height enhancement by women in historical periods

Etymology: Chopines were towering platform shoes worn in Renaissance Venice and across Europe, and the name came into English from French. The French "chopine" is a diminutive formed from "chope," with the suffix "-ine" added, so the word is in effect a little-something-of-a-chope. The source word is a doublet of "chopin," which English also inherited through a separate route, giving two forms of the same root. Chopines were prized for keeping long skirts clear of the street and for making their wearers look taller, and many were so high that women needed attendants to steady them when walking. Their extreme height became a mark of status, which is why Venetian women of rank could be seen tottering along on them.