1. (n.) The practice of lending money at an excessive rate of interest\.

2. (v. t.) Interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for the use of money.

Cosa Nostra Mafia advance advancement advancing bank rate black market bootlegging compensatory interest compound interest discount rate exorbitant interest exploitation extortion gambling gray market gross interest highway robbery holdup illegal commerce illegal operations illegitimate business illicit business interest interest rate lend-lease lending lending at interest loan-sharking loaning lucrative interest moneylending moonshining mortgage points narcotics traffic net interest organized crime overassessment overcharge penal interest premium price price of money prostitution protection racket racket rate rate of interest shady dealings shylocking simple interest surcharge the rackets the syndicate traffic in women white slavery