a cippuni

Sicilian

Etymology

From a + the singular of cippuna m pl, an augmentative of cippi m pl (“shackles”), whence also Maltese ċeppuna (“pen, fold”).

Adjective

a cippuni (invariable)

1. in shackles, in jail, imprisoned

   Megghiu pedi a vuluni chi pedi a cippuni.

   It's better to be on the run than in captivity.

   (literally, “better quick feet than feet in shackles.”)

References

• Giuseppe Pitrè (1871–1913) Biblioteca delle tradizioni popolari siciliane (in Italian), volume 9, page 386