Street
enforcer
What does enforcer mean?
An enforcer is a criminal whose job is to intimidate, injure, or kill to collect debts and impose the will of a crime boss.
"The enforcer paid a visit to anyone who fell behind on the vig."
Origin
American organized-crime slang, 20th century.
Frequently asked questions
What does an enforcer do?
An enforcer intimidates, injures, or kills to collect debts and impose the will of a crime boss.
Where does the term 'enforcer' come from?
It is 20th-century American organized-crime slang for the muscle behind a boss's orders.
What is 'the vig' an enforcer collects?
The vig, short for vigorish, is the interest owed on a loan-shark debt, which an enforcer collects by threat or force.
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