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The Italian-American Mafia has a language of its own, according to Mafia historians and federal court records. Some of this Mafia lingo has entered popular usage, some may be new to you. If you have watched shows like the Sopranos or played the popular Mafia Boss or the Mafia Wars game, then I am sure that you have wondered what the real meaning was for some of these Italian mafia terms.
- Associate: At first you will work for the Family as an associate. Only if you prove yourself will you be sworn in as a full member.
- Babbo: A mafia term for an underling who is considered to be useless – you don't want to be one of these or your days may be numbered.
- Big earner: Mafia lingo for someone who makes a lot of money for the family.
- Boss: The head of the Family (the Don). The Mafia boss has the ultimate say in all important decisions.
- Broken: When a member is demoted in rank.
- Buttlegging: Bootlegging untaxed cigarettes.
- Button: A Mafia ‘soldier’.
- Capo: A Captain in the family.
- Capo di tutti capi: The Mafia boss of the strongest Family - highest of all mafia ranks.
- Cleaning: Covering your tracks to ensure that you’re not being followed.
- Clip: This means to eliminate someone.
- Clock: To keep a person under surveillance.
- Comare: A common term for a woman that they may be dating outside of marriage - a Mafia mistress
- Compare: Croney, close pal. Literally "Godfather" in Italian.
- Consigliere: The counsellor to the boss.
- Contract: Murder assignment.
- Crew: A body of soldiers assigned to a capo.
- Cugine: A young ambitious gangster who wants to climb the ranks of power.
- Double-decker coffin: A coffin, which has a secret lower compartment used to dispose of a victim.
- Earner: One who generates income for a Mafia family.
- Enforcer: A member of the Family entrusted to ensuring fulfilment of deals by threats and if necessary killing.
- Fanabala: Ital-American dialect, morphed over the years from, "Va Fa Napoli" which literally mean, "go to Naples" but in the vernacular "go to hell".
- Fanook: Derived from "finocchio", a derogatory term for homosexual.
- Friend of mine: How a third party is introduced whom is not a member of the family but can be vouched for.
- Friend of ours: Introduction of one made member to another.
- Gabagool: Gabagool is slang for capicola, a thinly sliced Italian luncheon meat, taken from the shoulder (collo) and neck (capo - head) of a pig.
- Ice: This is yet another request for you to kill someone.
- Juice: The interest paid on a loan.
- Large: A grand, one thousand. "He owes me fifty large!" means ($50,000.00).
- Madonn': Madonna, common expression meaning holy smoke, holy cow, something said when surprised.
- Make a marriage: To bring two parties together to "do some business"
- Oobatz: Crazy.
- Omertá: The code of silence you have to swear when you join the Family.
- Piece: A firearm or gun.
- Pinched: To be arrested.
- Rat: A member who violates the Omertá.
- Shylock: A person who lends money at an extortionate rate of interest.
- Skim: Money taken that is not reported to the IRS.
- Skipper: A Captain or Capo.
- Turban: "Give him a turban." Means to crack his head open.
- Vig: Italian Mafia lingo for the interest paid to a loan shark for a loan. Usually 2 points or 2%.
- Whack: To murder someone.
- Young Turk: Mob term for a young defiant Mafia member.
- Zips: A derogatory Mafia term American Mafiosi's use for the Sicilian Mafiosi.
Well that's my list for now. If you want to find out how they eat check out Gumba Recipes.
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