The word of the day is omertà:
< Italian omertà (1865 or earlier), further origin uncertain and disputed.
The Italian word is probably not of Sicilian origin, as shown by its phonology (unstressed e and o do not normally occur in Sicilian dialects). Most scholars interpret it as an alteration of Spanish hombredad manliness (13th cent., now rare; < hombre man (see hombre n.) + -edad-ity suffix) after Italian regional (Sicily) omu man (see homo n.1). The alternative explanation as a regional variant (compare Italian regional (Naples) umertà) of Italian umiltàhumility n. (with allusion to the Mafia code which enjoins submission of the group to the leader as well as silence on all Mafia concerns) is not well supported by the geographical distribution of the word.
1. A Mafia code of honour which demands absolute loyalty to the organization and silence about its activities, esp. refusal to give evidence of criminal activity to the police.
2. In extended use: a code of silence, esp. about clandestine or criminal activity; a refusal to talk openly about something. (OED)
"Bryant continued to flout the omertà... He made a largely ignored speech about phonehacking in 2010. In March, he called upon a nearly deserted Commons chamber to investigate the allegations."
- Lauren Collins, "Early birds", 25 July 2011 The New Yorker
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