I searched through all of my Italian dictionaries and sources and it would appear that YOU are probably right. The word Mafia probably-though the etymology is not 100 percent certain- derives from the arabic "maha" (stone quarry) or "mahias" (which is translated into "spacconeria" in Italian, which in turn translated into "boastfulness" in english).
This sounds right to me, seeing as the sicilian language, as other languages of the region like maltese, have a large arab influence.
Thomas
--- Kevin Robert Dean <qualiall_2 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 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?
>
> =====
> Kevin Dean
> Buffalo, NY
> ICQ: 8616001
> AIM: KDean75206
> Buffalo Activist Network
> http://www.buffaloactivist.net
> http://www.yaysoft.com
>
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