mantelletta

[ man-tl-et-uh ]

noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

1. a silk or woolen sleeveless vestment reaching to the knees, worn by cardinals, bishops, and other prelates.

mantelletta

/ ˌmæntɪˈlɛtə /

noun

1. RC Church a sleeveless knee-length vestment, worn by cardinals, bishops, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of mantelletta¹

1850–55; < Italian, probably < Medieval Latin mantelletum, diminutive of Latin mantellum mantle

Word History and Origins

Origin of mantelletta¹

Italian, from Old French mantelet or Medieval Latin mantelletum, diminutive of Latin mantellum mantle

Example Sentences

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

In 1904, at the early age of thirty-nine, he was advanced from the soutane violet of the bishop to the mantelletta scarlet of the cardinal, and after the accession of the present Pope, Pius X, he was appointed to the highest office in the Vatican, that of Secretary of State, the Pope paying him the high tribute because of his “devotion to work, his capability and absolute self-negation.”

From Project Gutenberg

It is freely prophesied in Rome that the Cardinal secretary is destined to yet exchange the mantelletta scarlet for the zucchetta white, when Pius X shall have gone the way of all his predecessors in the papal chair.

From Project Gutenberg

And," she wrote, "I cannot tell you what I felt when I put on the black dress and mantelletta and veil, which are de rigueur when a lady is granted an audience with the Pope.

From Project Gutenberg

The plates are handed to Him by prelates of mantelletta, and during the ceremony one of His chaplains reads a spiritual book.

From Project Gutenberg