Meaning
protection money; lace
- Extortion or protection money paid to mafia organizations
- Lace fabric or trim
- A small pointed beard; goatee
In a sentence
I commercianti si sono rifiutati di pagare il pizzo.
The shopkeepers refused to pay protection money.
Ha comprato una tovaglia antica rifinita in pizzo.
She bought an antique tablecloth trimmed with lace.
Mio nonno porta un pizzo bianco molto curato.
My grandfather wears a very neat white goatee.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| pizzo | masculine · singular |
| pizzi | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- In modern Italian social and crime contexts, it specifically denotes extortion money paid to organized crime.