Decoy
/ˈdiː.kɔɪ/noun
A person or thing used to lure or mislead someone into a trap.
Did you know?Originally, 'decoy' comes from the Dutch word 'de kooi', meaning 'the cage', used for trapping birds, hinting at manipulation and deception.
Etymological Timeline
Middle Dutch
Dutch
de kooi
“the cage, a trap used for capturing birds.”
16th Century
English
decoy
“a device or person intended to lure animals or people into danger.”
19th Century
English
decoy
“used metaphorically for any trap or lure, especially in military or strategic contexts.”
Modern English
English
decoy
“retains the meanings of lure and trap, now often in the context of military tactics or deceptive practices.”