Stool-pigeon
1Stool pigeon — Stool Stool, n. [AS. st[=o]l a seat; akin to OFries. & OS. st[=o]l, D. stoel, G. stuhl, OHG. stuol, Icel. st[=o]ll, Sw. & Dan. stol, Goth. st[=o]ls, Lith. stalas a table, Russ. stol ; from the root of E. stand. [root]163. See {Stand}, and cf.… …
2stool pigeon — (USA) A stool pigeon is a police informer …
3stool pigeon — ► NOUN 1) a police informer. 2) a person acting as a decoy. ORIGIN so named from the original use of a pigeon fixed to a stool as a decoy …
4stool pigeon — police informer, 1868, American English; earlier one who betrays the unwary (or is used to betray them), 1821, originally a decoy bird (1812); said to be from decoys being fastened to stools to lure other pigeons. But perhaps related to stall… …
5stool pigeon — [sto͞o′lē] n. ☆ n. 1. a pigeon or other bird used as a decoy 2. a person serving as a decoy 3. Informal a spy or informer, esp. for the police: also stoolie [sto͞o′lē] n …
6stool pigeon — index informant Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …
7stool pigeon — stool ,pigeon noun count INFORMAL someone who gives information to the police about criminals …
8stool pigeon — [n] informer betrayer, blabbermouth*, canary*, decoy, deep throat*, doublecrosser, fink*, informant, narc*, nark*, rat*, sneak, snitch, snitcher, source, squealer*, stoolie*, tattler, tattletale, tipster*, turncoat, weasel*, whistle blower;… …
9stool pigeon — noun 1. someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police • Syn: ↑fink, ↑snitch, ↑snitcher, ↑stoolpigeon, ↑stoolie, ↑sneak, ↑sneaker, ↑canary …
10stool pigeon — (USA) A stool pigeon is a police informer. (Dorking School Dictionary) *** A person who acts as an informer, especially one who gives information to the police or the authorities, is called a stool pigeon. I don t trust Jack. I… …
