Buskins (caliga), ceremonial stockings of silk, sometimes interwoven with gold threads, and even heavily embroidered, worn by the celebrant of a pontifical Mass. Originally worn by priests, they were reserved about the eighth century for the exclusive use of bishops, a privilege recently extended to lesser prelates. In colour they correspond to the chasuble, but are never worn with black.
CATALANI, Cerem. Episcop. Comm, Illus. (Paris, 1860), I, 197-199; BERNARD, Le Pontifical (Paris, 1902), I, 17-18; Macalister, Ecclesiastical Vestments (London, 1896), 104-105.
John B. Peter.