stool pigeon

noun

1
: a person acting as a decoy or informer
especially : a spy sent into a group to report (as to the police) on its activities
2
: a pigeon used as a decoy to draw others within a net

Examples of stool pigeon in a Sentence

the FBI finally got a break when one of the mob boss's top henchmen turned stool pigeon
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
They are barred from using certain language during debates including git, guttersnipe, swine and stool pigeon. Max Colchester, WSJ, 3 Jan. 2019

Word History

Etymology

probably from the early practice of fastening the decoy bird to a stool

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stool pigeon was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near stool pigeon

Cite this Entry

“Stool pigeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stool%20pigeon. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

stool pigeon

noun
: a person acting as a spy or informer for the police
Etymology

from stool pigeon "a pigeon tied to a stool and used as a decoy to draw other birds into a net"

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