STOOL PIGEON Definition & Meaning

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stool pigeon

noun

a pigeon used as a decoy.
Also called ��ٴǴǱ�·�� [stoo, -lee], Slang. a person employed or acting as a decoy or informer, especially for the police.

stool pigeon

noun

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

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.”

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of stool pigeon¹

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

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Idioms and Phrases

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]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Between dead drops and TOR, this meant unlike traditional drug rings, no one actually has to meet face-to-face, shielding the operation from undercovers, turncoats and stool pigeons.

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George Davis is a stool pigeon, an informer and a traitor to the German government.

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“I didn’t send it to you because I wanted you to direct it. I sent it to you because I wanted you to know what I think of stool pigeons.”

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A local veterinarian confirmed the bird is no stool pigeon, saying “lots of police officers have come by and he’s said nothing.”

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If the mafia ever tires of sending stool pigeons to the bottoms of harbors in concrete overshoes, the mob can just tie my cymbal bag around their ankles.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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