omertà Hear it!

omertà definition

omer·tà (ō̂ mer tä′)

noun

in Sicily, a policy or code of keeping silent about crimes and refusing to cooperate with the police

Etymology: dial. for It umiltà, lit., humility (< L humilitas), hence submission, acquiescence to group code

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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