de|coy´er

de|coy «verb. dih KOY; noun. DEE koy, dih KOY», verb, noun.

–v.t.

1. to lead (wild birds or animals) into a trap or near a hunter: »

The farmer decoyed the rats with cheese.

2. Figurative. to lead or tempt (a person) into danger by trickery; entice: »

You cannot decoy us into the prison camp (New York Times).

SYNONYM(S): allure, inveigle.

–v.i.

to be decoyed.

╂[< noun]

–n.

1. an artificial bird used to lure birds into a trap or near a hunter: »

The duck hunter floated decoys on the water.

2. a bird or other animal trained to lure others of its kind into a trap.

3. Figurative. any person or thing used to lead or tempt into danger; lure. SYNONYM(S): bait.

4. a place into which wild birds or animals are lured.

╂[earlier coy, perhaps < Dutch (de) koye (the) ca< Latin cavea cave]

–de|coy´er, noun.