decoy-bird

A hunter places a decoy-bird near the pond.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A bird used to lure other birds into a trap or within shooting range, often as part of hunting or bird-catching.

Usage Examples

• (A live or artificial bird used to draw wild birds closer.)
• (Historical practice of using a bird as a lure.)

Advanced Usage

• "to act as a decoy-bird": to serve as a lure or enticement for others.
  • In the scheme, the informant acted as a decoy-bird to draw out the criminal. (To function as a trap or bait.)

Variants and Related Words

• Decoy (n): a person or thing used to lure someone into danger or a trap.
  • The police used a fake package as a decoy. (A lure not necessarily a bird.)
• Decoy-duck (n): a specific type of decoy-bird, often a wooden or live duck used in waterfowl hunting.
  • The decoy-duck floated convincingly on the pond. (A decoy in the shape of a duck.)

Synonyms

• Lure: something used to attract animals or people into a trap.
• Stool pigeon: a person used as a decoy or informant (originally a decoy-bird).
• Call bird: a bird trained to attract others by its calls.

Related Idioms

• Decoy duck: a person or thing used to deceive or distract.
  • The undercover agent was a decoy duck for the smuggling operation. (A distraction or lure.)

Phrasal Verbs (none directly applicable to this noun; see "decoy" as a verb)

• Decoy away: to lure someone or something away from a place.
  • They decoyed the guard away from the gate. (To entice away using a decoy.)