What rhymes with pizzo?
piz·zo

In Italy, the pizzo is protection money paid by a business to the Mafia, usually coerced and constituting extortion. The term is derived from the Sicilian pizzu. To wet someone's beak is to pay protection money. The practice is widespread in Southern Italy, not only by the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, but also by the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria and the Camorra in Campania. Another etymological explanation of the term is "beakerful", referring to the right of an overseer to scoop from the grain being threshed by peasants. Paying the pizzo might also be in kind, for example by forcing a company to put someone on the payroll, compulsory provision of services by Mafia controlled businesses as well as subcontracting to Mafia controlled companies. Pizzo is distinct from "vig" which is an agreed to percentage on a transaction. Businesses that refuse to pay the pizzo may suffer harassment, including arson. In return, businesses receive "protection" and can enlist neighbourhood Mafiosi to cut through bureaucracy or resolve disputes with other tradesmen. Collecting the pizzo keeps the Mafia in touch with the community and allows it to "control their territory".

more definitions for pizzo »