petbull n.— «Pit bull enthusiasts, who sometimes refer to the dogs as “petbulls,” devote Web sites to changing perceptions about the animal. They note that one of the most beloved dogs of television and film fame—Petey of...
scrap n.— «According to Dowden, the three men had been barbequing when a man wearing all black and a hood shot them while shouting “scraps,” a derogatory term used by Nortenos to deride Surenos.» —“Alleged Gang Violence...
Da U. n.— «Donna Shalala, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, serves as University of Miami’s president. How often does she refer to the institution as “Da U.”?» —“Inside Gang Green” by David...
shoot a fair one v. phr.— «At Madison Square I shot a fair one/so many niggaz knew me that the kid wouldn’t dare run.» —“Suckas Need Bodyguards” by Gang Starr Hard To Earn Mar. 8, 1994. (source: Double-Tongued...
make (one’s) bones v. to kill a person as requirement for membership in a criminal gang, especially if it is one’s first murder; to become a made man; (hence) to earn a reputation. Editorial Note: This term is associated with organized crime...
187 n.— «They use graffiti to mark territory but also to send messages. In some cases, threats are made as when the number “187,” a gang’s name and an individual’s name appear. “That is a call to kill the person,”...