A buskin, they tell me, is a thick-soled, laced boot, reaching to knee or calf, worn by actors of ancient Greek and Roman tragedies. (Also known as cothurnus.) The meaning has expanded to include tragic drama in general. The counterpart of buskin is sock (a comedy) after soccus, a lightweight low shoe worn by Greek and Roman comic actors.
Well, this explains volumes! I suspect "buskin" has lent its name to buskers, or street performers - jugglers, mimes, musicians and the like - whose wages often qualify as tragedy. It would also lead me to believe that the comic game of soccer is named after the lightweight low shoes worn to play it, and that military boot camp is likewise named for its signature footwear.
What other activities have we named after their clothing?