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Pizzo [pìz-zo]
pl. -i
lace: a robe with lace on it
beard covering only the chin dim: goatee
sharp peak of a mountain: palu pizzo
extreme, pointed part of something: the tip of a handkerchief
(informal) sum extorted by a Mafia organization from merchants and entrepreneurs
Etymology: ← voice of expressive origin; inf. sig., from pointed “extremity, edge,” hence “marginal part, piece, section.” (Garzanti)
The word pizzo is derived from the Italian word pizzicare, which means “to pinch.” This word is thought to have been used in reference to the Mafia's practice of extorting money from businesses, as the Mafia would “pinch” or squeeze their victims for money. The word pizzo eventually came to refer specifically to the money that was extorted by the Mafia, and it is now commonly used in Italy to refer to any kind of bribe or protection money paid to criminal organizations. The word pizzo has also been adopted in other parts of the world, particularly in countries where Italian is spoken, as a way to refer to this type of extortion or bribery. In this way, the etymology of the word pizzo is closely tied to the history of organized crime and corruption in Italy. (ChatGPT)