biretta

American  

[buh-ret-uh] / bəˈrɛt ə /

Also berretta,

noun

1. a stiff square cap with three or four upright projecting pieces extending from the center of the top to the edge, worn by ecclesiastics.

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biretta British  

/ bɪˈrɛtə /

noun

1. RC Church a stiff clerical cap having either three or four upright pieces projecting outwards from the centre to the edge: coloured black for priests, purple for bishops, red for cardinals, and white for certain members of religious orders

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Etymology

Origin of biretta

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Italian berretta, feminine variant of berretto, from Old Provençal berret, from Medieval Latin birrettum “cap,” equivalent to Late Latin birr(us) “hooded cloak” + -ettum diminutive suffix; apparently by the development: “hooded cloak” to “hood” to “cap”; compare Medieval Latin (circa 800) byrrus “short hood” ( cuculla brevis ); see birrus, -et

Example Sentences

Biretta, bir-et′a, n. a square cap worn by clergy—by priests, black; bishops, purple; cardinals, red.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

The Biretta is a square cap of black silk, or other stuff, worn by the clergy in out-of-door functions.

From The Worship of the Church and The Beauty of Holiness by Regester, J. A. (Jacob Asbury)

Related Words

• hat
• helmet
• tiara
• turban