Help settle a bet (not political)

[Kevin Robert Dean]

Sorry to bother the list with something non political,
but me and my friend are having a dispute on the
origins of the word "Mafia"

My friend claims that the word "Mafia" is an acronym
for "Morte alla Francia Italia anela"

I of course think this is silly.  From my quick google
searching the theory that the word is of Arab origin
(meaning either "refuge" or is from the words "mu
afah" or "strength") 

So who is right?

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Kevin Dean
Buffalo, NY
ICQ: 8616001
AIM: KDean75206
Buffalo Activist Network
http://www.buffaloactivist.net
http://www.yaysoft.com

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