The Moretta was the Venetian Carnival mask held in place by biting a button or bit.
Also called the servetta muta, or “mute servant woman,” the Moretta was a small, oval black velvet mask worn mainly by patrician women. It covered the face around the eyes and had no mouth opening. A button or bit on the inside was held between the wearer’s teeth, keeping the mask in place.
That fastening method created the mask’s “mute” reputation: the wearer could not speak without releasing the button and allowing the mask to fall away. The Moretta was often paired with a veil and was derived from the French visard mask tradition.
The alternatives describe different Venetian masks. The Colombina is a decorated half-mask, the Volto covers the face and is typically secured with ties, and the Bauta was shaped so its wearer could speak, eat and drink while remaining disguised. The Moretta fell out of fashion around 1760.