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Glite Dictionary
zucchetto

zucchetto

9.9
A small round hat worn by Catholic priests, bishops, and the pope
  • noun
  • /zuˈkɛtoʊ/
translation icon : zucchetto
  • Young seminarians aspire to wear the zucchetto as a sign of their commitment to the Catholic faith.

Examples

  • Antependium, maniple, biretta (he's a diocesan priest), zucchetto, and talar all seem natural now, and he celebrates the EF Mass a couple of times a month (but not for the main Sunday Mass).

    Blog text (24)

  • The bishop adjusted his zucchetto before stepping onto the altar.

  • During the ceremony, the pope's zucchetto symbolized his authority as a religious leader.

Synonyms

skullcap
vszucchetto
3 7.6

A small round cap that fits the top of the head and has no brim, often worn for religious reasons

is specifically worn by Catholic clergy, especially bishops and the pope
calotte
vszucchetto
9.9

A small round cap that fits close to the head and is worn by church leaders or at graduations

is limited to Catholic clerical use rather than general academic or clergy wear

Surface Forms

zucchetto singular
zucchetti plural

Etymology

Zucchetto comes from the Italian zucca 'gourd' or 'pumpkin' and the small ending -etto, so it originally meant 'little gourd'. So, imagine a small, round pumpkin on the head, which is why zucchetto is the name for the small, round cap worn by Catholic priests and bishops.