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
Words nearby stool pigeon
stook,
stookey-scarff operation,
stookie,
stool,
stool ball,
stool pigeon,
stooly,
stoop,
stoop ball,
stoop labor,
stoop to
Example sentences from the Web for stoolie
But remember, if he's a stoolie, you're the bird that's going to get it.
Spring Street |James H. Richardson
British Dictionary definitions for stoolie
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 stoolie
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 stoolie
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]