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A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z
| A | |
| action: | A bet placed through a bookie. |
| administration: | the upper-level power structure of an organized crime family, composed of the boss, underboss, and consigliere. |
| airing: |
To take someone out for an airing is to take someone out and kill him or her. |
| alkali: | obs. Whiskey, especially of the bootleg variety.Also Known As: Bootleg whiskey. |
| alky cooker: | A device used to distill alcohol.Also Known As: Still. |
|
alky Racket: |
During Prohibition, the distillation and distribution of illegal liquor.Also Known As: Rum running. |
| american way: | Coexistence of rival organized crime factions. |
| amico: : | A friend or associate of a crime family. See also amico nostro, friend of mine, friend of ours. Amico nostro: Italian for "friend of ours." Used to introduce an individual who has been officially inducted into the Mafia. |
| apache indian job: | An incredibly thorough firebomb that leaves nothing standing. No longer a favorite, this bombing method had its heyday in New York and New Orleans in the early twentieth century. |
| area man: | The organized crime boss of a section of a city that consists of several neighborhoods. |
| the arm: | The Buffalo, New York faction of La Cosa Nostra. |
| assassin's special: | An automatic .22-caliber handgun equipped with a silencer. |
| associate: | an almost-there; someone who works with and for wiseguys, but who hasn't been sworn in as a member of the Family or a non-Italian. |
| attache casing: | Collecting bribes so large they must be carried in a briefcase. |
| away: | A euphemism for someone who is incarcerated; if an individual is away, he is serving time. Also Known As: Away at college. |
| B | |
| babania: | Heroin, as in
dealing. Lucrative but risky for mob insiders
because if they're busted, long prsion terms might compel them to cut a deal and
rat. |
|
babania:
|
Heroin, as in
dealing. Lucrative but risky for mob insiders
because if they're busted, long prsion terms might compel them to cut a deal and
rat. |
| baby sister: | A bodyguard,
usually for a witness under police or federal protection.
Also Known As:
Babysitter. |
| bag man: | One who picks up and/or distributes bribe or protection money |
| banana race: | A fixed horse race |
|
B-and-A rackets: |
The illegal beer and alcohol business during Prohibition Also Known As: Rum running, bootlegging, alky racket |
| bankok connection: | The route used to import drugs from Southeast Asia to the United States and Canada through the port of Bangkok, Thailand. |
| barracuda: | An ugly woman. Also known as: Schifosa. |
| barrel murder: | A somewhat obsolete Mafia murder method in which the victim is stuffed into a barrel and left to rot. |
|
beauty doctor: |
A club with a steel tip, used to disfigure a beating victim |
| beef (beefer): | 1) To inform; 2) beefer: one who informs on mob activities. Also Known As: Rat, pigeon, snitch, stoolie. or: a complaint or disagreement within organization, usually discussed during a sit down with the higher level Family members. |
| big earner: | An individual who uses his abilities to earn large amounts of money for a crime family. |
| big papa: | The Thompson machine gun, c. 1937. Also Known As: Tommy gun. |
| big time dealer: | A drug dealer who buys his product from distributors and sells it to smaller dealers. |
| biscuit (piece): | A gun |
| books, the: | euphemism for membership in the Family, since nothing is written down. When there is availibility, the books are "opened". When no one is being "made" the books are "closed". |
| boosters: | Small-time street thieves |
|
borgata: |
a crime Family; brugad |
|
boss: |
the head of the crime Family; he is the only one who gives permission to "whack" or "make" someone, and he makes money from all Family operations; aka- don |
| Boss of Bosses; | Capo di tutti capi: while no one proclaims himself the Boss of Bosses anymore, the press awards this title to whomever they feel is the boss of the strongest of the five families of New York, who is also said to preside over Commission meetings. |
| broken: | demoted in rank; "knocked down" |
| brugad: | a crime family; borgata |
| buckwheats: | A vengeance
murder involving torture, mutilation and a slow death Example:
"He died buckwheats": he died slowly and painfully. |
| burn: | to murder; aka- break an egg, clip, do a piece of work, hit, ice, pop, put out a contract on, whack. |
| bust-out: | A forced bankruptcy of a person or an organization, usually through theft, fraud or extortion. |
| button man: | An
"official" member of the Mafia, one who has been inducted into a crime
family; one who has "made his button." |
| button: | a "made" member of the Mafia; soldier, wiseguy, goodfella, Man of Honor |
| C | |
| cafone: | a phony or embarrassment to himself or others; gavone |
| canary (stoolie): | An informer Also known as: Pigeon, stool pigeon, canary. |
| cane
corn: |
During Prohibition, an illegal alcohol made from cane sugar and corn. |
| capo: | ranking member of a Family who heads a crew of soldiers; a skipper |
| Capo di tutti capi: | see Boss of bosses |
| capodecina: | Ranking member of a crime family who heads a crew of ten soldiers.Also known as: Capo, caporegime, skipper, lieutenant. |
| Caporegime: | (see capo): Ranking member of a crime family who heads a crew of soldiers.Also known as: Caporegime, skipper, lieutenant. |
| captains of industry: : | Crime bosses. Also a 1928 designation of the Commission Also known as: Bosses, dons, godfathers, elder statesmen |
| carpet: | A meeting of at least two Mafia families for the purposes of settling a dispute.Also known as: The meets, sit-down. |
| case: | To check out or size up a location with the intent of committing a crime. |
| cement coffin: " | A murder method that involves placing a victim in a tub of cement until it hardens, at which time he is dumped into a body of water. Also known as: Cement overcoat, cement shoes. A victim who has been encased in cement and dumped into a body of water is said to be "swimming with the fishes. |
| cement overcoat: | A murder method in which the victim is encased in cement to prevent authorities from discovering the body. Sometimes the body is buried in the cement of a new construction site; at other times the body is placed in a receptacle and covered with cement. When the cement hardens, it is dumped into a body of water. Also known as: Cement coffin, cement shoes. A victim who has been encased in cement and dumped into a body of water is said to be "swimming with the fishes." |
| cement shoes: | A murder method in which a victim's feet are encased in cement until it hardens, at which time he is dumped into a body of water. Also known as: Cement overcoat, cement coffin. A victim who has been encased in cement and dumped into a body of water is said to be "swimming with the fishes." |
| chairman: | An adviser to the Commission of La Cosa Nostra |
| chairman of the board: | The highest ranking member of a crime family, used mostly in Detroit.Also known as: Boss, don. |
| chased: | to be banished from the Mafia and barred from associating or doing business with any made members. The punishment is merciful in that the offender is spared death. |
| chief corrupter: | The crime family member who is in charge of bribing or attempting to bribe politicians. |
| clean: | Not carrying a gun; v. To take the necessary steps to avoid being followed. |
| cleaning: | taking the necessary steps (driving around, stopping in various locations) to avoid being followed. |
| cleaning house: | A system or establishment that insures all bets taken by bookmakers |
| clip: | to murder; see burn |
|
clock: |
to keep track of someone's movements and activities |
| comare: | a Mafia mistress; goumada |
| the combination: | A 1930s designation for the Cosa Nostra Also known as: Mafia, Cosa Nostra. |
| come heavy: | To arrive carrying a loaded gun |
| come in: | to go see the boss when summoned |
| Commission, the: | the Mafia "ruling body", typically a panel made up of the bosses of the five NY families (Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Colombo, Bonanno) sometimes with representatives from other US families, such as Chicago. |
| communion: | Hide a
whacked body so it can never be found. |
| compare: | crony, close pal, buddy |
|
connected: |
One who associates or does business with the Mafia without being an official member. |
| consigliere: | the counselor in a crime
Family; advises boss and handles
disputes within the ranks |
|
contract: |
a murder assignment |
| Cosa Nostra: | "Italian for "this thing of ours." A close-knit criminal society operating in the United States and almost always comprised of members of Italian-American ancestry. |
| crew: | a group of soldiers that takes orders from a capo |
| crime family: | A unit of the Mafia operating in a specific geographical region, composed of men tied together by loyalty to their boss. |
| cugine: | a young toughguy looking to be made |
|
CW: |
FBI terminology for a "cooperating witness."Also known as: Turncoat, rat, snitch.. |
| D | |
| deathbeat: | One who does not honor his debts. |
| deli: | A union delegate |
| district man: | A crime family members who supervises a small urban area |
| do a piece of work: | to murder; see burn |
| don: | A title bestowed on the boss or leader of a crime family, usually reserved for men of Sicilian descent. |
| double decker coffin: | A coffin with an additional false bottom. The straight citizen whose family paid for the coffin is placed on the top level, while the victim of a mob hit is placed underneath. |
| drop man: | A gangster who collects receipts from a numbers runner. Likewise, a drop is a location where numbers runners turn in their receipts. |
| E | |
|
earner: |
someone whose expertise is making money for the Family |
| elder statesman: | The boss of a crime family |
| empty suit: | someone with nothing to offer who tries to hang around with mobsters |
| enforcer: | a person who threatens, maims, or kills someone who doesn't cooperate with Family rules or deals. |
| envelope: | A cash
payment, usually in the form of a bribe or protection money. |
| F | |
| fence: | someone with worldwide outlets to liquidate swag |
| field man: | An individual who supervises a group of numbers runners. |
| fifth estate: | The syndicate; the world of organized crime. |
|
finger: |
1) To mark for murder; 2) to inform on |
| the five families: | The five major Mafia families of New York: Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese and Lucchese. |
| five times .38: | Shot five times with a .38-caliber gun |
| fratellanza: | Brotherhood; also refers to the Mafia |
| friend of mine: | introduction of a third person who is not a member of the Family but who can be vouched for by a Family member |
| friend of ours: | introduction of one made member to another |
| fugazi: | A fake or counterfeit item |
| G | |
|
gaff: |
A dishonest individual who habitually swindles, cheats and deceives |
| gangbuster: | A law enforcement official who actively and aggressively seeks to break up organized crime. |
| gangland: | 1) The underworld, organized crime; 2) A nickname for Chicago. |
| gangster: | A
person belonging to a gang, a crime family, or another group of criminals. |
| gavone: | see cafone |
|
get a place ready:
|
to find a burial site |
| gift: | a bribe, sometimes for a juror, etc. |
| give a pass: | to grant a reprieve from being whacked |
|
giveup: |
The portion
of earnings a made guy must give his superior. Used predominantly in Chicago. |
| going: |
about to be whacked |
| going south: | stealing, passing money under the table, going on the lam |
| goner: : | An individual who has been marked for death |
| good
people:
|
Indicates people amenable to mob dealings; used predominantly in Chicago. |
| goombah, goomba, gumba: | Sicilian slang for the Italian compare; goombata |
| go to the
mattresess:
|
To go into hiding |
| goumada: | see comare |
|
graft: |
Profit gained from dishonest business practices or fraud, or a portion of those monies given to corrupt officials, often politicians. |
| H | |
| hack: | A prison guard |
| half assed wiseguy: | A criminal who seeks admission into the Mafia. |
| ham and chesse sandwich: | A payoff to a union delegate |
| handbook: | An employee or financial backer of a bookmaker's operations |
| hard-on with a suitcase: | mob lawyer; feminine- half a hard-on with a suitcase |
| headhunter: | A hired assassin |
|
heat: |
Unwanted attention from law enforcement or the press |
| hijack: | To steal from a transporter of illegal goods. |
| hit: | 1) n. An Mafia-sanctioned assignment to carry out a murder; 2) v. to murder; 3) n. a winning ticket in an illegal lottery. |
| hit man: : | A murderer for hire, a hired assassin |
| hitmobile: | A car reserved for mob assassination purposes, usually a traditional black sedan. |
| honored society: | The Sicilian Mafia. |
| hot place: | a location suspected of being target of law enforcement or surveillance |
| I | |
| ice: to murder; | see burn |
| ice-pick-kill: | A murder method in which the victim is subdued by several gangsters while another jams an ice pick through the victim's eardrum and into the brain. Results in death by cerebral hemorrhage. |
|
independent: |
A bookmaker or numbers runner who is not a Mafia member, but who pays a royalty for permission to operate. |
| indict: | 1) Indict: v. To bring a formal charge against, as by a grand jury; 2) Indictment: n. A formal written statement charging a person with a criminal offense. The charge must then be proven at trial. |
| in the wind: | The status of an individual after he has left the Witness Protection Program. |
| italian rope trick: | A murder method in which a length of rope is looped around the victim's neck and two hit men pull on opposite ends of the rope. |
| J | |
| joint, the: prison; | aka- the can, the pen, go away to college |
| K | |
| kickback: | That part of the profit which is illegally given to law enforcement or other public officials to avoid prosecution, or as a reward for a job or contract. |
|
kiss of death: |
A kiss delivered by a mobster, which is a public warning that if the recipient does not immediately comply with the mob's wishes, he will be marked for death. |
| L | |
| lammest: | An individual who has become a fugitive in order to elude other gangsters or police. |
| lay-off/man/room: | A bookmaker's practice of placing bets with the money they have received from bettors |
| leader: | A lottery ticket containing a three-digit number chosen by a bettor who has also wagered that he can guess the first digit of the three-digit number that is drawn at random. |
| legbreaker: | An organized crime worker who roughs people up for his boss. |
| little
joe: |
An execution method reserved for welshers and loan shark debtors. The victim is shot four times in the head, with the shots laid out in two straight rows. |
| loanshark: | someone who lends money at an exorbitant interest rate; a shylock |
| M | |
| made: | to be sworn into LCN; aka- "straightened out", to get your button |
|
made guy: |
An organized crime worker who has been officially inducted into the Mafia. |
| mafia: | A secretive crime organization whose members are generally of Italian and Sicilian descent. |
| mafie: | Sicilian gangs organized to extort money from local townsfolk. Similar in operations to the Black Hand which operated in the United States in the early 20th century. |
| mafioso: | An official member of the Mafia |
| make: | To induct an individual into the Mafia. |
| make a marriage: | bring two parties together for legitimate or illegitimate Family issues. |
| make one's bones: | To carry out one's first sanctioned mob hit. This practice was once a requirement for induction into the Mafia, although this ritual is no longer as widespread. |
| man of respect: | A ranking officer of a crime family |
| mattresses, hitting the, taking to the: |
going to war with a rival Family or gang |
| meat eater: | a corrupt cop (not exclusively mobspeak) |
|
mechanics: |
Card and dice manipulators who rig games. |
| the meets: | A conference of leading underworld figures. |
| men of respect: | Generally used to refer to the Sicilian Mafia; not widely used when referring to American crime families. |
| mercy room: | The emergency room of a hospital. |
| middle: | A sure bet, one that the gambler cannot lose. |
| middling: | Reselling stolen goods. |
| mob: | In organized crime parlance, a crime family; the entire Cosa Nostra. |
| mobster: | gangster / mafia member |
|
motorcade murders: |
Elaborate drive-by processional executions in which dozens of shooters and thousands of bullets were used; popular in the 1920s. |
| Moustache Petes: | old fashioned or older generation Mafiosi |
| N | |
| numbers operator: | An organized crime worker who runs a numbers game. |
| number racket: | An illicit lottery where an arbitrary number is chosen to determine the winner, usually daily horse racing results. |
| number runner: | One who receives and places bets from customers for the numbers racket. |
| nut, the: | "the bottom line"; gross profit figure |
| the office: | The New England faction of La Cosa Nostra |
| O | |
|
Omerta: |
the code of silence and one of the premier vows taken when being sworn into the Family. Violation is punishable by death. |
| off the record: | an action taken without the knowledge or approval of the Family |
| on the arm: | Goods or services received on credit or as a token of appreciation. |
| on the gamble: | Operating an illicit lottery in which the ticket seller finances everything, pays winners from his profits, and pays his boss for being allowed to run the lottery. |
| on the lam: | Having become a fugitive; having eluded other gangsters or police. |
| on the pad: | Having to pay regular bribes for one's protection. |
| on the record: | an action sanctioned by the Family |
| open: | Used to refer to a region not controlled by one specific Mafia family |
|
organized crime: |
The operation of a group of criminals that is organized on a national and international level and coordinates all manner of illegal activities. |
| the outfit: | The Chicago faction of La Cosa Nostra |
| the outs: | The losing bets at illegal horse racing operations, which are used to pay off winning bets. |
| P | |
| pad: | A list of locations where law enforcement and other public officials have been bribed to overlook criminal operations. |
| parakeet: | An attractive woman |
| payola: | Money paid for the purposes of blackmail, extortion or graft; bribery. |
| pazzo: | Crazy |
| piece: | gun |
| piece of the business: | A portion of profits from a crime family's rackets |
| piece of work: : | A contract to kill someone |
|
pinched: |
arrested |
| pop: to murder; | see burn |
| pre-hits: : | Measures taken prior to carrying out a hit in which the target's major allies are eliminated |
| problem: | a liability, someone likely to be whacked |
| put the X on: | To designate for murder |
| R | |
| racket: | Any criminal act or operation, so called because of the disturbance it creates. |
| rat: | a member who violates Omerta; aka- squealer, canary, snitch, stool pigeon, yellow dog. |
| rehash: | A bankruptcy fraud in which the operator buys goods on credit, sells them at or below cost, and then declares bankruptcy. |
| respect: | A display of deference based mainly on fear |
|
RICO: |
The Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal statute enacted in 1970. The statute allows prosecutors to seek tougher sentences for mobsters if they can prove a connection to a criminal organization or syndicate. In theory, the statute also allows the government to prosecute every member of a crime family once a criminal conspiracy has been proven. |
| ride, take of a (a one way trip): | A car trip from when the victim does not return |
| S | |
| serious headache: | A gunshot wound in the head |
| serious trouble: | The state of a person who has committed an offense against the mob which is punishable by death. |
| shills: | Hirelings who play in rigged games in order to draw victims; they are often mechanics. |
| shiv: | A knife |
| shylock: | see loanshark |
| sicilian necktie: | A piece of wire used to garrote a victim |
| sit-down: | a meeting with the Family administration to settle disputes |
| skim: | tax-free gambling profits, money taken that is not reported to the IRS |
| skipper: | a capo |
|
soldier: |
an individual who has been officially inducted into the Mafia; also, one of a group of organized workers who work under a capo. |
| squeal: | To inform or turn informant |
| stand-up guy: | someone who refuses to rat out the Family no matter what the pressure- offer or threat. |
| stone killer: | A particularly efficient and cold-hearted professional killer. Related: enforcer, hit man, executioner. |
| stoolie: | An informer |
| straight: | A non-criminal, as in a "straight citizen." |
| straightened out: | To be officially inducted into the Mafia |
| swag: | stolen goods |
| T | |
| telephone solicitor: : | A bookmaker who accepts bets over the phone |
| trunk music: | After a victim is murdered and stuffed into the trunk of a car, the "trunk music" is the sound of the body's flesh rotting |
| turban: | To crack open someone's skull |
| U | |
| uncle sugar: | The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (the feds) |
|
underboss: |
The second highest position in a Mafia family, accountable only to the boss |
| underworld: | The world of organized crime |
| usury: | The loaning of money at an exorbitant interest rate, well in excess of the legally established limits. |
| V | |
| vigorish: | The interest paid to a Mafia loan shark, usually large in proportion to the overall loan. |
| vouch for: | to personally guarentee- with one's life- the reputation of someone dealing with the Family |
| W | |
| walking book: | A travelling bookmaker who services customers on a fixed route. |
|
walk talk, take a walk:
|
to conduct a sensitive discussion while striding up and down the block to avoid being overheard on surveillance devices |
| whack: | to murder Also Known As: To break an egg, to ice, to off, to pop, to put to sleep, to rub out |
| wiseguy: | An individual who has been officially inducted into the Mafia |
| Y | |
| young turks: | younger, less traditional generation of Mafiosi. Less likely to live by the old rules |
| Z | |
| zips: | American Mafiosi's derogatory term for Sicilian Mafiosi. |
rules of conduct” of any respectable crime family.
These rules are simple, and so are the reasons behind them. Let me explain.
Rule Number One: Obedience
This is all about respect. Always do what your boss tells you. He’s the boss for a good reason, so do what he says. The boss is the only one who can give the order to whack someone or make someone. If you’ve got a beef with someone, don’t go thinking that you have the right to get rid of the problem yourself. Keep your cool, think with your head and stay smart. You take your beef to the next sit down and let the boss decide. Always do what he says, and nothing more. Don’t start any fights you can’t win.
Rule Number Two: Loyalty
Always remain loyal to members of the Family. Your Family always comes first, no exceptions. So be a team player. Don’t get in the way of each other’s interests. Be prepared to defend the Family with your life. An attack on any member should be considered an attack on all members, to be avenged no matter what. Also, remember that other Families are family, too. You are expected to help out any faction in need, unless that faction is at war with your Family, in which case they are to be treated as mortal enemies. At least until your Don says otherwise, then you can play nice.
Rule Number Three: Honor
This one is simple, and ties into the first two rules. Basically, just be a stand-up guy. Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut. When you see something that’s not your business, don’t see it. Keep your mouth shut. If you hear things not mean for you, don’t hear them. Don’t be a babbo. Mind your own business.
Rule number four: Pride
If you take pride in your business and your Family, the rest comes naturally. Be a man of honor and always do right by your Family. Remember that in Sicily (God bless), the word “mafia” was once used to describe individuals of pride, excellence, grace and self-confidence. Try and live up to it, for chrissakes. Respect women and your elders. Try to have some class.
Rule number five: Silence
Now this is the big one. The sacred oath of Omertà. This basically means silence, but the word “Omertà” was once used to describe manliness. So never discuss Family business. Never have any dealings with authorities under any circumstances. Don’t be an informer. Remember, no one likes a rat, unless it’s a dead rat. You are to keep the identities and activities of Family members secret at all costs. Violation of this code is punishable by death. Nobody’s going to give you a pass on this one, so don’t go wagging your tongue unless you want to die.
Those are most of the rules. For your sake, I hope you can remember them. Hey, and if you are not a legitimate member of the Family, don’t go thinking that now that you know this stuff, you can hang with the wiseguys. It don’t work like that. We’ve seen plenty of empty suits come along trying act smart, as if they were made men. Empty suits should be hung out to dry... if you know what I mean. So if you think you’re some kinda cugine looking to get his button, you’d better just take my advice and button your lip. The books are closed. Get my meaning? You want to apply these rules to your own life, that’s fine. Live a life of honor and respect, but do it away from the Family. You understand, goombah?
OK, I think that’s enough educating for one week. As I said before, keep your noses clean, your eyes open and your mouths shut.