CREPIDA OR CREPIDULA

The terms comes from crepitate - a series of small sounds. These were thick soled boots or leather espadrilles and were worn by the Romans. A narrow piece of leather covering the side of the boot was pierced along the top with several holes through which a thong was passed. This was attached to the instep. Sometimes the edges had leather buckles through which strips were passed. Criminals clumped around in wooden soled shoes called crepida. These were lashed to their feet with thongs. The heavy shoes were to stop the criminal from escaping. An alternative name for crepida was carbatina.