Mafioso Lingo

meat eater: a corrupt cop.

mechanic: a fixer, the one who rigs gambling tables and dice.

Meets, the: an organized crime meeting, or conference.

Mustache Petes: Old school Mafiosi.

nut, the: "the bottom line", also meaning the gross profit figure.

Omertà: the code of silence and one of the most important vows taken when being sworn into the Family.

on the arm: on credit.

off the record: an action taken without the consent of the Family.

on the record: an action taken with the consent of the Family.

piece: a gun.

pinched: arrested.

pen, the: penitentiary, prison.

pop: to murder

problem: a liability, someone who most likely will be whacked.

put to sleep: to murder.

queer: counterfeit

rat: someone who violates the Omertà, an informant.

Right Arm: Underboss

score: the take from a robbery.

shiv: a knife.

shylock: someone who loans mob money at high interest rates. Name taken from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.

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

skim: Tax-free gambling profits, as in profits hidden from the IRS.

skipper: capo.

snitch: someone who violates the Omertà, an informant.

stand-up guy: someone who will not violate the Omertà, no matter what the deal offered, pressure, or threat.

stool pigeon: someone who violates the Omertà, an informant.

squealer: someone who violates the Omertà, an informant.

swag: illicit, or stolen goods.

take, the: the score.

Uncle Sugar: the FBI

vig: the interest on a loan from a loan shark.

vouch for: to guarantee with your own life the reputation of an individual you are about to introduce to the Family.

walk talk, take a walk: to hold a conversation while walking around the block in order to avoid the possibility of being recorded through planted listening devices.

whack: to murder

yellow dog: someone who violates the Omertà, an informant.

Young Turks: New school generation of Mafiosi.

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

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