- biretta
- (bih-REHT-ah) [Italian, from Latin] A brimless, square cap with three or four upright projections on its crown, worn by clerics in the Catholic hierarchy.
Dictionary of foreign words and phrases. Mary Varchaver and Frank Ledlie Moore. 2012.
biretta
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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 — 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
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
