Baccagghju Explained

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:[1]

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

    Notes and References

    1. , chapter 2,,, 2008, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A., Milan.

    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Baccagghju".

    Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.