stool pigeon
- a pigeon used as a decoy.
- Also called stool·ie [stoo-lee] /ˈstu li/, stooly. Slang. a person employed or acting as a decoy or informer, especially for the police.
Origin of stool pigeon
Examples from the Web for stoolie
Historical Examples
But remember, if he's a stoolie, you're the bird that's going to get it.
Spring StreetJames H. Richardson
stool pigeon
- a living or dummy pigeon used to decoy others
- an informer for the police; nark
- US slang a person acting as a decoy
Word Origin and History for stoolie
stool pigeon
n.
"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 "decoy bird" (c.1500), especially "a pigeon used to entice a hawk into the net" (see stall (n.2)). Also cf. pigeon.
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.”
Idioms and Phrases with stoolie
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]