stool pigeon

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stool pigeon

n.
1. Slang A person acting as a decoy or as an informer, especially one who is a spy for the police.
2. A pigeon used as a decoy.
[From the practice of tying decoy pigeons to a stool to attract other pigeons.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

stool pigeon

(ˈstuːlɪ) ,

stoolie

or

stooly

n
1. (Hunting) a living or dummy pigeon used to decoy others
2. (Law) an informer for the police; nark
3. slang US a person acting as a decoy
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

stool′ pi`geon


n.
1. a pigeon used as a decoy.
2. Also called stool•ie (ˈstu li) Slang. a person employed or acting as a decoy or informer, esp. for the police.
[1820–30, Amer.]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

stool pigeon

A person who betrays others, especially a criminal who informs on other criminals; from the old method of hunting pigeons by decoying them with another bird tethered to a stool.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun 1. stool pigeon - someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
betrayer, blabber, informer, squealer, rat - one who reveals confidential information in return for money
2. stool pigeon - a dummy pigeon used to decoy others
bait, decoy, lure - something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

stool pigeon

noun
Slang. One who gives incriminating information about others:
Informal: rat, tipster.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations

stool pigeon

n
(lit, fig: = decoy) → Lockvogel m
(inf: = informer) → Spitzel m (inf)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

stool pigeon

n (fam) → informatore/trice
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in periodicals archive ?
Made by French company Stooly, the line includes stools, poufs, small tables and lighting.
Overseas influence