Mafioso Lingo

administration: the upper echelons of the Family, composed of the boss, underboss, and consigliere.

associate: someone who is closely involved with the wiseguys, but is not a member of the family.

B&E: breaking and entering.

babania: Heroin. The dealing of drugs has long been frowned upon by the Mafia, as long prison sentences often meant there would be a chance the ones who were apprehended for the crime could cut a deal with the prosecution, and betray the Family.

babbo: an idiot, a weaker minded individual.

bag man: the one who carries the money.

banana race: a fixed horse race.

beef: a disagreement within the organization, resulting in a sit-down meeting between high-ranking family members for resolution of the issue.

big earner: someone who generates an impressive amount of money for the Family.

biscuit: a gun.

books, the: euphemism for keeping tabs on membership in the Family. Nothing is actually written down, but "admissions", "promotions", and "retirements" are duly noted, in "the books".

borgata: an organized crime Family

boss: The head of the Family;

break an egg: to murder

broken: demoted in rank.

brugad: a crime Family

burn: to murder

bust out: to make someone go bankrupt.

button: a "made" member of the Mafia, a.k.a. goodfella, wiseguy, soldier etc.

booster: small time thief.

cafone: a blundering individual who embarrasses himself and others by putting his foot in his mouth, or behaving in a tactless manner.

can, the: prison

canary: someone who violates the Omertà, an informant.

capo: high ranking Family member who heads a crew of soldiers.

Capo di tutti capi: the boss of all bosses.

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