berretta Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a stiff cap with ridges across the crown; worn by Roman Catholic clergy
    birretta; biretta.

WordNet

Ber*ret"ta noun
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  1. 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.

Webster 1913