mozzetta

or mo·zet·ta

[ moh-zet-uh; Italian mawt-tset-tah ]

noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

, plural moz·zet·tas, Italian moz·zet·te [mawt-, tset, -te].

1. a short cape that covers the shoulders and can be buttoned over the breast, and to which a hood is attached, worn by the pope and by cardinals, bishops, abbots, and other dignitaries.

mozzetta

/ məʊˈzɛtə; motˈtsetta /

noun

1. RC Church a short hooded cape worn by the pope, cardinals, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of mozzetta¹

1765–75; < Italian, aphetic variant of almozzetta, equivalent to almozz(a) (compare Medieval Latin almutia amice ² ) + -etta -ette

Word History and Origins

Origin of mozzetta¹

C18: from Italian, shortened from almozzetta, from Medieval Latin almutia almuce

Example Sentences

He laughed with the crew about the microphone in his vestments and I took a picture of a woman rolling a lint brush over his black mozzetta.

From New York Times

A clear winner on this is the mozzetta, a short shoulder-covering robe worn by the pope and cardinals and, last night, by a very chic Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton.

From The Guardian

The cassock is traditionally worn with a coordinating mozzetta, a short cape that symbolizes his authority.

From Time

For instance, commentators celebrated the new pope’s informality as a refreshing change from his predecessor after he stepped out to greet the crowd in a simple white cassock without the traditional red velvet cape called a mozzetta.

From Wall Street Journal

All the Cardinals, even the Penitentiary and the Camerlengo, at once doffed the distinguishing mark of their rank, the short, capelike mantelletta, wearing simply the white mozzetta or small cape, the rest of their attire violet for mourning.

From Time Magazine Archive