Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Berretta
Ber-ret′ta
,Noun.
[It., fr. LL.
birrettum
, berretum
, a cap, dim. of L. birrus
, birrum
, a cloak to keep off rain, cf. Gr. [GREEK]
tawny, red: cf. Sp. birreta
, Pg. barrete
, and E. Barret
.] 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.]