stool pigeon


noun

a pigeon used as a decoy.
Also called stool·ie [stoo-lee] /ˈstu li/, stooly. Slang. a person employed or acting as a decoy or informer, especially for the police.

Origin of stool pigeon

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Example sentences from the Web for stool pigeon

British Dictionary definitions for stool pigeon

stool pigeon

noun

a living or dummy pigeon used to decoy others
an informer for the police; nark
US slang a person acting as a decoy

Cultural definitions for stool pigeon

stool pigeon

An informer, especially for the police: “Lefty figured out that Mugsy was the stool pigeon when he saw him talking to the warden.”

Idioms and Phrases with stool pigeon

stool pigeon

A decoy or informer, especially a police spy. For example, Watch out for Doug; I'm sure he's a stool pigeon for the supervisor. This term alludes to a bird tied to a stool or similar perch in order to attract other birds, which will then be shot. However, one writer believes that stool is a variant for stale or stall, both nouns used for a decoy bird before 1500 or so. [c. 1820]