bi·ret·ta
| \ bə-ˈre-tə
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Definition of biretta
: a square cap with three ridges on top worn by clergymen especially of the Roman Catholic Church
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Examples of biretta in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead of the usual thousands, only 10 guests per cardinal were allowed in St. Peter's Basilica as the pope gave the men their ring and traditional red hat, known as a biretta.
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NBC News, "Pope installs new cardinals, including first African-American," 28 Nov. 2020
Cardinals from Brunei and the Philippines could not travel and will receive their ring and biretta from a papal delegate.
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NBC News, "Pope installs new cardinals, including first African-American," 28 Nov. 2020
Among those receiving the cardinals’ biretta — a crimson-red square cap with three ridges — was his point man for helping Rome’s homeless and poor.
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Washington Post, "Pope to 14 new cardinals: Defend the dignity of the poor," 28 June 2018
Other looks in the show included a teal cargo jumpsuit with a matching miter, an oversized polo dress topped with a red velvet cardinal’s biretta, and a high-necked white dress that evoked an adult-size christening gown.
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New York Times, "Meet the Young Designers Making Catholic-Inspired Fashion," 9 May 2018
The deeply revered priest was a tall man with a long Old World beard and a biretta cap perched on his head.
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Joni Sternbach, Smithsonian, "A Pittsburgh Church Holds the Greatest Collection of Relics Outside of the Vatican," 29 July 2017
Tip o' the biretta to David Weinberger, Paul Boutin, James R. Giusti, and Paul McFedries.
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Wired Staff, WIRED, "Jargon Watch," 1 Nov. 2000
The deeply revered priest was a tall man with a long Old World beard and a biretta cap perched on his head.
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Joni Sternbach, Smithsonian, "A Pittsburgh Church Holds the Greatest Collection of Relics Outside of the Vatican," 30 June 2017
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biretta.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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“Biretta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biretta. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.
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The first known use of biretta was in 1598
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