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stool pigeon
noun
1.
a pigeon used as a decoy.
2.
Also called stool·ie 
[stoo-lee] , stooly. Slang. a person employed or acting as a decoy or informer, especially for the police.
[stoo-lee] , stooly. Slang. a person employed or acting as a decoy or informer, especially for the police.Origin:
1820–30, Americanism
1820–30, Americanism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Stool pigeon
is always a great word to know.
So is creepy. Does it mean:
| of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a person who is obnoxious or peculiar |
| inferior or cheap, chintzy |
Collins
World English Dictionary
| stool pigeon | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a living or dummy pigeon used to decoy others |
| 2. | an informer for the police; nark |
| 3. | slang (US) a person acting as a decoy |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
stool pigeon
1830, Amer.Eng., said to be from notion of decoys fastened to stools to lure other pigeons. But perhaps related to stall "decoy bird" (1500), especially "a pigeon used to entice a hawk into the net" (see stall (2)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
stool pigeon definition
An informer, especially for the police: “Lefty figured out that Mugsy was the stool pigeon when he saw him talking to the warden.”
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
stool (pigeon) definition[ˈstul ˈpɪdʒən] and [ˈstuli]and stoolie
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Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
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]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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