L birrus, hooded cloak. Head-covering of the priesthood. It is circular with a hard rectangular base surmounted by three or four curved ridges above the crown, usu wiith a tassel on top. A cardinal's biretta is red, a bishop's is purple, and that of all other clergy is black.

Bi*ret"ta (?), n.

Same as Berretta.

© Webster 1913.