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decoy
de·coy • n. / ˈdēˌkoi/ 1. a bird or mammal, or an imitation of one, used by hunters to attract other birds or mammals. ∎ a person or thing used to lure an animal or person into a trap. ∎ a fake or nonworking article, esp. a weapon, used to mislead or misdirect. 2. a pond into which wild ducks may be enticed for capture. • v. / diˈkoi/ [tr.] lure or entice (a person or animal) away from an intended course, typically into a trap. ORIGIN: mid 16th cent. (earlier as coy): from Dutch de kooi ‘the decoy,’ from Middle Dutch de kouw ‘the cage,’ from Latin cavea ‘cage.’ Sense 2 is from the practice of using tamed ducks to lead wild ones along channels into captivity. |
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"decoy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "decoy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-decoy.html "decoy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-decoy.html |
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decoy
decoy pool with netted approaches for the capture of wildfowl. XVII. Evidence for the corr. vb. is earlier in Sc. (XVI) and in the gen. sense ‘entice, allure’; but the sb. was no doubt prior, and perh. — Du. de kooi ‘the decoy’, with assim. to †decoy gambling card-game (XVI), of unkn. orig. Du. kooi, †koye is a parallel development to MDu. kouwe, MLG. kaue — L. cavea CAGE.
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T. F. HOAD. "decoy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "decoy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-decoy.html T. F. HOAD. "decoy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-decoy.html |
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decoy
decoy n. dummy an imitation in any sense of a person, object, or phenomenon, the intention of which is to deceive enemy surveillance devices or mislead enemy evaluation.
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"decoy." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "decoy." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-decoy.html "decoy." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-decoy.html |
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decoy
decoy
•decoy • didicoi • Khoikhoi
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Cite this article
"decoy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "decoy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-decoy.html "decoy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-decoy.html |
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