be·ret·ta or ber·ret·ta  (bə-rět'ə)  n. Variants of biretta. |
| bi·ret·ta also be·ret·ta or ber·ret·ta (bə-rět'ə) n. Ecclesiastical A stiff square cap with three or four ridges across the crown. Birettas are worn especially by Roman Catholic clergy and are black for priests, purple for bishops, and red for cardinals. [Italian berretta, from Old Provençal berret, cap, from Late Latin birrus, hooded cloak, probably of Celtic origin.] |
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