Unione Siciliana
/(j)uːˈnjəʊni sɪˌsɪlɪˈɑːnə/(also Unione Siciliano, Unione Siciliane, Unione Sicilione) Now historical
noun
A Chicago-based benevolent society for Sicilian immigrants, which developed into an Italian-American criminal organization similar to the Mafia.
- The Unione Siciliana was renamed the Italo-American National Union in 1925..
Origin
Early 20th century; earliest use found in Des Moines (Iowa) Daily News. From Italian Unione Siciliana, lit. ‘Sicilian union’ from unione + Siciliana, feminine of Siciliano.