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Decoy

noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.
  2. 2
    something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed wordnet
  3. 3
    A real or fake animal used by hunters to lure game.
  4. 4
    a beguiler who leads someone into danger (usually as part of a plot) wordnet
  5. 5
    Deceptive military device used to draw enemy attention or fire away from a more important target.

    "2002, Robotech: Battlecry – Guide and Walkthrough Just every 5 seconds or so shoot out a decoy near the Cats Eye and the enemies will aim for that instead of the Cats Eye."

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  1. 6
    An assembly of hooped or netted corridors into which wild ducks may be enticed (originally by tame ducks) and trapped.
Verb
  1. 1
    To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap. transitive

    "to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net"

  2. 2
    lure or entrap with or as if with a decoy wordnet
  3. 3
    To act as, or use, a decoy. intransitive

    "As they were being decoyed, the rescue team carried the hostage and quietly slipped away."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Dutch de + kooi, literally "the cage". Possibly related to verb coy (which itself may have been influenced by decoy).

Etymology 2

From Dutch de + kooi, literally "the cage". Possibly related to verb coy (which itself may have been influenced by decoy).

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