Street
button man
What does button man mean?
A button man is a soldier in a Mafia family, especially one used as a hit man. 'Getting your button' means becoming a made member.
"He started as a button man and worked his way up to running a crew."
Origin
American Mafia slang; 'button' evoking a foot soldier taking orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'button man'?
A button man is a low-ranking soldier in a Mafia family, especially one used as a hit man to carry out killings on orders.
What does 'getting your button' mean?
It means becoming a made member of the Mafia, formally inducted as a soldier in the family.
Where does the term come from?
It comes from American Mafia slang, with 'button' evoking a foot soldier who takes orders from above.
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