maffia

• ⇰ A secret society which organized in Sicily as a political organization, but is now widespread among Italians, and is used to further or protect private interests, reputedly by illegal methods; called also the Sicilian Mafia>.
• ⇰ A group of loosely associated of criminal organizations in the United States, some having ties to the Sicilian Mafia, and organized in families ; the term is applied to the entire group of organizations, or to any one local group. Also, loos
• ⇰ Any tightly knit group of trusted associates having strong control or influence in some area; <as>as, Kennedy and his Irish <ex>Mafia</ex></as>.