Foreign origins: Kowtow, omerta_其他_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Foreign origins: Kowtow, omerta

The other word for today is the Italian omerta.

Omerta, Sicilian for manliness, refers to the vow of silence taken by members of the Mafia. In other words, members will not tell on one another and in case of arrest will refuse to give evidence to the police of their criminal activities.

Omerta is also the title of one of books by Mario Puzo (best known for the Godfather which was adapted into hit films) about the Mafia. Omerta implies strong loyalty (be a man, you know) plus wrongdoing. Understanding the word's cultural background, one will find it easier to remember as well as to put in correct use (if the situation arises. If ever, that is).

Here are two media examples:

1. From The Guardian (Mafia Rebirth Dismays UN Conference, December 12, 2000):

A Mafia challenge to the state in 1992, climaxing in the car-bomb murders of judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, prompted new laws and a prolonged crackdown. Mobsters such as Giovanni Brusca, who were persuaded to breakomerta, the code of silence, implicated hundreds of colleagues in so-called "maxi" trials.

Toto Riina, the boss of bosses, was sentenced to life and the former prime minister Giulio Andreotti, the organization's alleged protector in Rome, was put on trial.

2. From salon.com (The Three Stooges, August 2, 2007):

Omerta(or a code of silence) has become the final bond holding the Bush administration together. Honesty is dishonorable; silence is manly; penitence is weakness. Loyalty trumps law. Protecting higher-ups is patriotism. Stonewalling is idealism. Telling the truth is informing. Cooperation with investigators is cowardice; breaking the code is betrayal. Once the code is shattered, however, no one can be trusted and the entire edifice crumbles.