Mafia

I always have been fascinated by mafia. Now i cant even remember when was the first time when i first heard the name. I guess it was in the encyclopedia. I can say with guarantee that i have read that page atleast dozen time. So here are some of the mafia terms you ought to be familiar with.......

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.

Beef: a complaint or disagreement within the organization

Broken: demoted in rank

Borgata: a crime family

Button: a "made" member of the Mafia

Capo ( Capodecina ): ranking member of a Family who heads a crew (or group) of soldiers

Comare: a Mafia mistress

Commission: 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.

Consigliere: the counselor in a crime Family, advises boss and handles disputes within the ranks.

Contract: a murder assignment

Cosa Nostra: A mob family

Enforcer: a person who threatens, maims, or kills someone who doesn't cooperate with Family rules or deals.

Get a place ready: To find a burial site.

Gift: A bribe

Ice: to murder

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

Made: to be sworn into La Cosa Nostra

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

Hitting the Mattresses: going to war with a rival Family or gang.

Omertà: 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.

Skim: Tax-free gambling profits,

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

Swag: stolen goods.

Vig: the interest payment on a loan from a loanshark

Young Turks: Younger, less traditional generation of Mafiosi.

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

La Mafia è Bianca: The mafia is invisible