decoy

 

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈdiːkɔɪ, dɪˈkɔɪ/
  • 1a bird or mammal, or an imitation of one, used by hunters to attract other birds or mammals: [as modifier]: a decoy duck
  • a person or thing used to mislead or lure someone into a trap: we need a decoy to distract their attention
  • 2a pond from which narrow netted channels lead, into which wild duck may be enticed for capture.

verb

Pronunciation: /dɪˈkɔɪ, ˈdiːkɔɪ/
[with object and adverbial of direction]
  • lure or entice (a person or animal) away from their intended course, typically into a trap: they would try to decoy the enemy towards the hidden group

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