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(January 2013)| Beret-like headwear has been worn across Europe
since pre-Roman times. Mass production began in 19th century
France, Spain and Italy, countries with which it remains
associated. Berets are worn as part of the uniform of many
military and police units worldwide, as well as by other
organizations. The French word béret, from which the English
term derives, is based on the Béarnais Berret, a "sort of flat
woollen cap, worn by the local peasants". It was first mentioned
1835 in French and in the 19th century in English. This word is
related to the English biretta "clerical square cap", borrowed
itself from the Spanish birrete of the same etymology. Most
specialists think it is a diminutive form biretum of the Low
Latin birrum, which means "sort of short cloak with a hood"
["cuculla brevis"], that is from Gaulish birros "short". This
word is a close relative to Old Irish berr "short", Welsh byr,
Breton berr "short", all thought to be from