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   De·coy

   noun

   • 1. a bird or mammal, or an imitation of one, used by hunters to attract other birds or mammals: "a decoy duck"
   • ▪ a person or thing used to mislead or lure an animal or person into a trap: "we need a decoy to distract their attention"
   • 2. a pond from which narrow netted channels lead, into which wild ducks may be enticed for capture.

   verb

   • 1. lure or entice (a person or animal) away from an intended course, typically into a trap: "they would try to decoy the enemy toward the hidden group"

   Word Origin mid 16th century (earlier as coy): from Dutch de kooi ‘the decoy’, from Middle Dutch de kouw ‘the cage’, from Latin cavea ‘cage’. decoy (sense 2 of the noun) is from the practice of using tamed ducks to lead wild ones along channels into captivity.

   Scrabble Points: 11

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