biretta

3 definitions found

biretta - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Berretta \Ber*ret"ta\, n. [It., fr. LL. birrettum, berretum, a
     cap, dim. of L. birrus, birrum, a cloak to keep off rain, cf.
     Gr. ? tawny, red: cf. Sp. birreta, Pg. barrete, and E.
     Barret.]
     A square cap worn by ecclesiastics of the Roman Catholic
     Church. A cardinal's berretta is scarlet; that worn by other
     clerics is black, except that a bishop's is lined with green.
     [Also spelt beretta, biretta, etc.]
     [1913 Webster]

  Biretta \Bi*ret"ta\, n.
     Same as Berretta.
     [1913 Webster]

biretta - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  biretta
      n 1: a stiff cap with ridges across the crown; worn by Roman
           Catholic clergy [syn: biretta, berretta, birretta]