Carlo Gambino

Born 1902, in Palermo, Sicily. He moved to the states at the age of 19. Quickly became involved with trouble. Quickly became known and is one of the most known mobsters of our day. Died of Heart failure in 1976.

Mafia slang

Gangs used a unique way of communication . Using codewords and slang to keep things private and simple.

Action

Old-time term for illicit profits. Also sometimes used to refer to the potential for racket income.

Arm

Nickname for the Buffalo-Niagara Falls Mafia family.

Associate

Though the usual sense of this word conveys a sense of belonging, in Mafia-speak an associate is one who works in affiliation with a Mafia organization but is not an official member.

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B

Beef

A quarrel between underworld individuals or groups. Also hard feelings felt by one Mafioso against another. Beefs are generally brought to Mafia higher-ups for resolution.

Black Book

Nickname for the publicly circulated exclusion lists - generally of racketeers and game-cheats - generated by gaming commissions in Nevada and New Jersey.

Book

A gambling racket ordinarily focused on sporting events. The racket is run by a "bookmaker."

Books

Membership rolls of the Mafia families.

Borgata

Family. The basic structural unit of the Mafia society. The Borgata has an established hierarchy, a body of members or soldiers, and many associates.

Boss

Sometimes referred to as Father, Godfather or Uncle in the old tradition, the boss is the leader of the Mafia Family.

Break

To displine a Mafia family leader by demoting him in rank.

Bump off

Kill.

Burn

Kill.

Button

A soldier in a Mafia family. A member who can be called upon by a family boss to perform an execution.

Buy

Bribe. A police officer or politician who takes money in exchange for allowing crime to continue is "bought."

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C

Call in

The act of ordering - without explanation - a made man to report to his superiors. Mafiosi might be called in so they can be disciplined (murdered). Once the order is received, the made man must report as ordered. So, mafiosi in trouble with superiors will sometimes drop out of touch to avoid receiving the call.

Capo dei capi

The leader of all leaders or boss of bosses. The most powerful Mafia boss to whom all others defer. Some know this as the Capo di capi or the Capo di tutti capi.

Capo

Originally referred to a Mafia boss but in more recent usage refers to a minor leader within a Mafia family, chief of a crew. Also referred to as a captain, skipper or lieutenant.

Capodecina

Synonymous with capo, this term designates the capo as a leader of at least ten soldiers.

Caporegime

Synonymous with capo, but often used to refer to more significant group leaders.

Case

Size up criminal possibilities. Plan a robbery. As in "case the joint."

Clip

Kill. Also to harm in some way. ("Jimmy clipped me of 5 G's.")

Combination

An organized criminal entity including gangs of various ethnic backgrounds. Syndicate.

Commission

A ruling representative body serving as the national legislature and supreme court of the Mafia network. Commission members are the leaders of the more powerful Mafia families. Each is also assigned to represent minor families.

Connected

A description of a Mafia "associate."

Consigliere

A translation of this word as "counselor" has led to a mistaken impression about the position's duties (that the consigliere is an adviser to the boss). Actually, the consigliere post is intended to serve the family membership, by granting a channel of communication to the boss.

Contract

An old-time term referring to an order to murder an individual.

Cosa Nostra

To many, this is the proper name of the Mafia in the United States. In fact, it was an effort by some mob bosses to refer to their shared secret society WITHOUT naming it. The phrase translates to, "our thing."

Cosca

Translated "gang," this term is typically used to refer to a Mafia organization in Sicily. Equivalent to "borgata."

Crew

A body of soldiers assigned to a capo. The crew typically meets on a regular basis at the capo's headquarters.

Crumb

Old-time term for a member of "legit" society. A working man.

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D

Do up

Mafia's 19th Century slang for murder. "Go find Benny and do him up."

Don

A traditional term of respect for a male in Romance languages, which has been corrupted in some circles to refer to Mafia bosses.

Dough

Money, especially the ill-gotten variety.

Drop

or drop-off. A prearranged location for disposal of goods. Also a holding location where individuals are screened before being taken to an illicit activity, such as a crap game.

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E

Earner

One who generates income for a Mafia family. Higher levels of income are generated by "big-earners."

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F

Family

The basic unit of the Mafia society. See "Borgata."

Father

Antiquated term for the leader of a Mafia family. See "Boss."

Featherbedding

The practice of assigning more union workers to a project than necessary.

Feds

Federal law enforcement agents. In pre-Prohibition days, Mafia-feared Feds were agents of the Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and the Postal Inspection Service. During Prohibition, they were agents of the Treasury Department. After Prohibition, the FBI gradually - and reluctantly - turned its attention toward the Mafia.

Fence

One who trades in stolen goods. To sell off swag.

Fix

A situation in which law enforcement has been paid to allow criminal activity. A gangster might refer to such a situation by saying, "The fix was in."

Flip

To abandon the principle of "omerta" and begin to cooperate with law enforcement.

Friend of ours

An introduction in which one Mafia member informs another that a new acquaintance is also a member. It is a means of vouching for the underworld credentials of another person. As opposed to "friend of mine," which, in introduction, means simply what it says.

These are all exaples of the slangs they used and there is much more to their underground language.