- biretta
- biretta square cap worn by Catholic clergy, 1590s, from It. beretta, from L.L. birrus, birrum "large cloak with hood;" perhaps of Gaulish origin, or from Gk. pyrros "flame-colored, yellow."
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
biretta
Look at other dictionaries:
Biretta — • A square cap with three ridges or peaks on its upper surface, worn by clerics of all grades from cardinals downwards Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Biretta Biretta … Catholic encyclopedia
Biretta — Bi*ret ta, n. Same as {Berretta}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
biretta — ► NOUN ▪ a square cap with three flat projections on top, worn by Roman Catholic clergymen. ORIGIN Italian berretta or Spanish birreta, from Latin birrus hooded cape … English terms dictionary
biretta — [bə ret′ə] n. [It berretta < LL birrettum, dim. of L birrus, a hood, cloak, prob. < Celt base, as in Cymric byrr, MIr berr, short] a hard, square, ceremonial hat with three or four vertical projections and sometimes with a pompom or tassel… … English World dictionary
Biretta — The biretta is a square cap with three or four ridges or peaks, sometimes surmounted by a tuft, traditionally worn by Roman Catholic clergy and some Anglican clergy. It is also the term used for a similar cap worn by those holding doctoral… … Wikipedia
biretta — UK [bəˈretə] / US noun [countable] Word forms biretta : singular biretta plural birettas a stiff square hat worn by a Roman Catholic priest … English dictionary
biretta — 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
biretta — /beuh ret euh/, n. a stiff square cap with three or four upright projecting pieces extending from the center of the top to the edge, worn by ecclesiastics. Also, berretta, birretta. [1590 1600; < It berretta, fem. var. of berretto < OPr berret … Universalium
biretta — noun A square cap, originally with four ridges across the top, surmounted by a tuft, worn by Roman Catholic clergy (and by some in the Anglican Church). A three sided biretta is worn by Roman Catholic clergy for liturgical celebrations … Wiktionary
biretta'd — adjective wearing a biretta Facing the ladies a birettad priest appeared to be perusing a little, fat, black, greasy book of prayers which he held aslant so as to catch the light … Wiktionary
