Baccagghju (or baccaglio) is a cant based on Sicilian and Calabrian dialects used by members of Cosa Nostra and the 'Ndrangheta, the criminal organization operating in Calabria (Southern Italy). Sometimes the puppeteers of the Opera dei pupi used the jargon, to transmit unwanted content by the authorities.
Vocabulary
In 1897, a prostitute revealed to judges some terms:
- marca carnente
- woman in love
- maggiorigna
- madame of a brothel
- strambola
- night
- putrimento
- bed
- mutria
- face
- sopracielo
- hat
- sferra
- stabbing knife
- cerino
- knife
- lampanti
- eyes
- fangose, caminanti
- "walkers", shoes
- putea
- police station
- zaffi
- policemen
- carrubbi
- carabinieri
- sciacche
- prostitutes
- muffa
- handkerchief
- 'ntiuno
- watch
- capezza
- chain
- grasciume
- gold
- sfogliose
- bank notes
- maniglie
- old Italian liras
- utri ca fossa
- manslaughter, the punishment for traitors
References
- Fratelli di sangue [it], chapter 2, Nicola Gratteri, Antonio Nicasso [it], 2008, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A., Milan.
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