stool pigeon

noun

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

stool pigeon

noun

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

stool pigeon

1. An informer, especially for the police: “Lefty figured out that Mugsy was the stool pigeon when he saw him talking to the warden.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of stool pigeon¹

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

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]

Example Sentences

In the late 1990s, when Bulger went on the run and Flemmi turned stool pigeon, the lurid details started to come out.

From The Daily Beast

If there were no thieves, where would the stool-pigeon and detective find their profits?

From Project Gutenberg

Of course, in a case of this sort, "stool pigeon" men are useless, for no professional crooks are involved.

From Project Gutenberg

Prosecutor Cunningham said he had "been looking all over for that rifle" when it was turned over to him by a stool pigeon.

From Project Gutenberg

Knowing from Molly that Texas was a stool pigeon he understood the philosophy of the high-priced counters.

From Project Gutenberg

But one is your step-father—another the step-father of your affianced bride, and the other a mere stool-pigeon.

From Project Gutenberg