Mafia Glossary

administration: the upper-level power structure of an organized crime Family, composed of the boss, underboss, and consigliere.

associate: an almost-there; someone who works with and for wiseguys, but who hasn't been sworn in as a member of the Family.

babania: Heroin, as in dealing. Lucrative but risky for mob insiders because if they're busted, long prison terms might compel them to cut a deal and squeal.

babbo: A dope, idiot, useless underling.

beef: a complaint or disagreement within the organization, usually discussed during a sit-down with higher-ups in the Family.

big earner: someone who makes a lot of money for the Family. A LOT of money.

books, the: euphemism for membership in the Family, since nothing is ever written down. When there is an availability (when someone dies), the books are

Commission, The: the Mafia "ruling body", typically a panel made up of the bosses of the five New York Families, Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Colombo, and Bonanno sometimes with representatives from other U.S. Families, such as Chicago.

compare: crony, close pal, buddy. Literally, "godfather" in Italian.

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 mob family, the Mafia.

crew: a group of soldiers that takes orders from a capo.

cugine: a young toughguy looking to be made.

do a piece of work: to murder; see burn.

earner: someone whose expertise is making money for the 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.

fence: someone with worldwide outlets to liquidate swag.

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.

gavone: see cafone.

get a place ready: To find a burial site.

gift: A bribe, sometimes for a juror.

give a pass: To grant a reprieve from being whacked.

going: About to be whacked.

going south: stealing, passing money under the table, going on the lam.

goombah, goomba, gumba: Sicilian slang for the Italian compare; plural: goombata

goumada: see comare.

hard-on with a suitcase: mob lawyer; feminine: half a hard-on with a suitcase.

hot place: a location suspected of being the target of law enforcement or surveillance.

ice: to murder; see burn.

joint, the: prison; synonyms: the can, the pen, go away to college.

loanshark: someone who lends mob money at an exorbitant interest rate; a shylock.

made: to be sworn into La Cosa Nostra; synonyms: to be "straightened out," to get your button.

make a marriage: to bring two parties together for legitimate or illegitimate Family issues.

mattresses, hitting the, taking to the: going to war with a rival Family or gang.

meat eater: a corrupt cop (not exclusively mobspeak).

Mustache Petes: Old fashioned or older generation Mafiosi.

nut, the: mobspeak for "the bottom line"; also the gross profit figure.

Omertá: 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 record: an action sanctioned by the Family.

piece: a gun.

pinched: arrested.

pop: to murder; see burn

problem: A liability, someone likely to be whacked.

rat: a member who violates Omertá; synonyms: squealer, canary, snitch, stool pigeon, yellow dog.

shylock: see loanshark

sit-down: a meeting with the Family administration to settle disputes.

skim: Tax-free gambling profits, as in the money taken that is not reported to the IRS.

skipper: a capo.

stand-up guy: someone who refuses to rat out the Family no matter what the pressure, offer, or threat.

swag: stolen goods, also an acronym for "stolen without a gun."

vig: the interest payment on a loan from a loanshark (short for "vigorish"). Synonym: juice.

vouch for: to personally guarantee--with one's life--the reputation of someone dealing with the Family.

walk talk, take a walk: to conduct a sensitive discussion while striding up and down the block to avoid being overheard on those pesky eavesdropping devices.

whack: to murder; see burn.

Young Turks: Younger, less traditional generation of Mafiosi. Less likely to live by the old rules.

Zips: American Mafiosi's derogatory term for Sicilian Mafiosi.