Mozetta

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of ecclesiastical garment worn by cardinals, usually characterized by its distinctive cape-like form
2. A ceremonial vestment used in certain religious contexts, often seen draped over the shoulders of high-ranking clergy
3. An ornate piece of attire symbolizing ecclesiastical authority, commonly featuring a rich fabric and detailed embellishments

Etymology: The mozzetta is a short, cape-like garment with a hood-like shape, worn over the shoulders by cardinals and some other prelates. Its name is tangled up with the old word for a hooded cape worn by clergy. Medieval Latin "almucia" named that hooded garment, and the Italian word "mozzetta" seems to descend from either the Italian adjective "mozzo", meaning "cut off" or "shortened", or from "almucia" itself; scholars have not settled which. The diminutive ending "-etta" suggests a small or short version of a garment. English took the word from Italian, and it also arrived through French, where "mozete" and "mosette" were used for the same kind of garment. The French and Italian forms ran in parallel, so the English word is a doublet of "mosette", meaning the two words share one ancestor but came into English by different routes. The plural is "mozzette", taken directly from Italian.

Synonyms: mozzetta, cape, mantle, cloak, shoulder cape