Origin: 1590–1600; < It berretta, fem. var. of berretto < OPr berret < ML birrettum cap, equiv. to LL birr(us) birrus+ -ettum-et; appar. by the development: hooded cloak > hood > cap; cf. ML (ca. 800) byrrus short hood (cuculla brevis)
square cap worn by Catholic clergy, 1598, from It. beretta, from L.L. birrus, birrum "large cloak with hood, perhaps of Gaulish origin, or from Gk. pyrros "flame-colored, yellow."
[buh-ret-uh] 
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