Biretta
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 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.
"It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers."
- 2 a stiff cap with ridges across the crown; worn by Roman Catholic clergy wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers."
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian biretta, berretta. Doublet of beret.
Related phrases
More for "biretta"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.