The Godfather

The Godfather Glossary

Button Men

Bodyguards/hired killers. The term comes from "when you need a man to press a button for you".

Caporegime

A Mafia term for a lieutenant or second in command

Como se diche

How do you say... (Italian)

Consigliere

Counselor

Finochhio

A derogatory term for 'homosexual'.

Garrote

A weapon - like a rope, chain, cord, or string - that is used to strangle someone

Going to the Mattresses

The term describing the mafia practice of retreating to secret headquarters during a war between families. The men would even sleep in these headquarters, which would have mattresses scattered all over the floor.

Goombas

A derogatory term for Italians

Grazie

Thank you (In Italian)

Guinea

A derogatory racial slur for Italian-Americans

Hit

Kill

Lupara

A double-barreled sawed-off shotgun common in Sicily

On Payroll

A public official or strategically placed individual whom a crime family pays in return for loyalty and protection

Pezzonovante

"A big shot" or powerful person (in Italian)

Prego

You're Welcome (in Italian)

Racket

A dishonest business or practice, generally involving fraud and extortion

Shacked up

A slang term for a romantic liasion

Sleep with the Fishes

A term to indicate that someone has been killed; refers to bodies being dumped into the water.

Strunz

From the Italian word "stronzo" - it is an epithet used as a vulgar insult.

Te Salud

"To your Health" in Italian

To put a tail on

to secretly follow

Vendetta

a grudge, often grounds for retaliatory murder

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