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
