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This is a glossary of words related to the Mafia, primarily the Italian American Mafia and Sicilian Mafia . administration: the top-level "management" of an organized crime family -- the boss, underboss and consigliere. [ 1] associate: one who works with mobsters, but has not been asked to take the vow of Omertà; an almost confirmed, or made guy.
Today, especially in Italian-American slang, "goombah" is a term for a companion or associate, especially a friend who acts as a patron, accomplice, protector, or adviser. When used by non-Italians to refer to Italians or Italian-Americans, "goombah" is often derogatory, implying a stereotypical Italian-American male, thug, or mafioso. [3]
Zips. Zips (also Siggies or Geeps) is a slang term in the United States that was especially in use in the early 20th century. It was often used as a derogatory slur by Italian American and Sicilian American mobsters in reference to newer immigrant Sicilian and Italian mafiosi. The mobsters in the US were said to have difficulty understanding ...
Sicilian Mafia. The Sicilian Mafia or Cosa Nostra ( Italian: [ˈkɔːza ˈnɔstra, ˈkɔːsa -], Sicilian: [ˈkɔːsa ˈnɔʂː (ɽ)a]; "our thing" [ 3] ), also referred to as simply Mafia, is a criminal society originating on the island of Sicily and dates back to the mid-19th century. It is an association of gangs which sell their protection ...
Made man. Structure of a Mafia crime family. In the American and Sicilian Mafia, a made man is a fully initiated member of the Mafia. To become "made", an associate first must be Italian or of Italian descent and sponsored by another made man. An inductee will be required to take the oath of omertà, the Mafia code of silence and code of honor.
The American Mafia, [ 23][ 24][ 25] commonly referred to in North America as the Italian-American Mafia, the Mafia, or the Mob, [ 23][ 24][ 25] is a highly organized Italian American criminal society and organized crime group. In North America, the organization is often colloquially referred to as the Italian Mafia or Italian Mob, though these ...
Lupara ( Italian pronunciation: [luˈpaːra]) is an Italian word used to refer to a sawed-off shotgun of the Break-action type. It is traditionally associated with the Sicilian Mafia for their use of it in vendettas, defense—such as its use against Benito Mussolini 's army when he decided to break up the Sicilian mafioso network—and hunting.
Capo dei capi (Italian: [ˈkaːpo dei ˈkaːpi]; "boss of [the] bosses") or capo di tutti i capi (Italian: [ˈkaːpo di ˈtutti i ˈkaːpi]; "boss of all [the] bosses") or Godfather (Italian: Padrino) are terms used mainly by the media, public, fiction writers and law enforcement community to indicate a supremely powerful crime boss in the Sicilian or American Mafia who holds great influence ...