| berretta | 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. Origin: 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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