decoy
noun
• a bird or mammal, or an imitation of one, used by hunters to attract other birds or mammals.
• "a decoy duck"
• a pond from which narrow netted channels lead, into which wild duck may be enticed for capture.
decoy
verb
• lure or entice (a person or animal) away from their intended course, typically into a trap.
• "they would try to decoy the enemy towards the hidden group"
Similar:
lure,
entice,
induce,
inveigle,
ensnare,
tempt,
seduce,
entrap,
snare,
trap,
Origin:
mid 16th century (earlier as coy ): from Dutch de kooi ‘the decoy’, from Middle Dutch de kouw ‘the cage’, from Latin cavea ‘cage’. decoy (sense 2 of the noun) is from the practice of using tamed ducks to lead wild ones along channels into captivity.
