beret

American  

[buh-rey] / bəˈreɪ /

noun

berets plural

1. a soft, visorless cap with a close-fitting headband and a wide, round top often with a tab at its center.

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beret British  

/ ˈbɛreɪ /

noun

1. a round close-fitting brimless cap of soft wool material or felt

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• berets
  plural

Etymology

Origin of beret

1820–30; < French < Gascon berret, OPr. ber ( r ) et. See biretta

Explanation

A beret is a round, soft hat. Berets were first made in 17th-century France, and they're still commonly associated with that country. If you enjoy French culture, you might don a beret while eating baguettes with brie. We can trace the origin of beret back to the Late Latin birrus, "large, hooded cloak," and since the word itself is French, the t is silent — beret rhymes with tray. From the time they were invented, berets have been casual, fashionable caps most often made of wool or felt. The armies of several countries, including Italy and the U.S. Special Forces, also wear berets as part of their uniform.

Example Sentences

Ashore, the waist-high grass smelled like heather, one of the men later remem bered.

From Time Magazine Archive

I see in her eyes that she’s just remem- bered who I really am.

From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau

You will, on the contrary, be ushered upstairs into a parlor - there is nothing resembling a shop- encum- bered with specimens - of remarkably handsome pottery.

From A Little Tour in France by James, Henry

Communications are indeed different, but Scott remem- bered that Flatland was considered a valid society with a unique perspective on the universe.

From Terminal Compromise: computer terrorism: when privacy and freedom are the victims: a novel by Schwartau, Winn

"And so-and so-he-" At the personal pronoun, Mrs. Wainwright lum- bered frantically to her feet.

From Active Service by Crane, Stephen