Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Decoy
De-coy′
(dē̍-koi′)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Decoyed
(-koid′)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decoying
.] To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap; to insnare; to allure; to entice;
as, to
decoy
troops into an ambush; to decoy
ducks into a net.Did to a lonely cot his steps
decoy
. Thomson.
Syn. – To entice; tempt; allure; lure. See
Allure
. De-coy′
,Noun.
1.
Anything intended to lead into a snare; a lure that deceives and misleads into danger, or into the power of an enemy; a bait.
2.
A fowl, or the likeness of one, used by sportsmen to entice other fowl into a net or within shot.
3.
A place into which wild fowl, esp. ducks, are enticed in order to take or shoot them.
4.
A person employed by officers of justice, or parties exposed to injury, to induce a suspected person to commit an offense under circumstances that will lead to his detection.
Webster 1828 Edition
Decoy
DECOY
,Noun.
1.
Any thing intended to lead into a snare; any lure or allurement that deceives and misleads into evil, danger or the power of an enemy.2.
A place for catching wild fowls.Definition 2025
decoy
decoy
English
Noun
decoy (plural decoys)
- A person or object meant to lure something to danger.
- A real or fake animal used by hunters to lure game.
Translations
person or object meant to lure something to danger
|
animal used by hunters to lure game
Verb
decoy (third-person singular simple present decoys, present participle decoying, simple past and past participle decoyed)
- To act or use a decoy.
- (transitive) To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap.
- to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net
- Goldsmith
- E'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, / The heart, distrusting, asks if this be joy.
Derived terms
Translations
to act or use a decoy