decoy-duck

English

	A user suggests that this English entry be moved, merged or split.
	Please see the discussion on Requests for moves, mergers and splits⁽⁺⁾ for more information and remove this template after the request has been fulfilled.

decoy-duck (plural decoy-ducks)

A duck used to lure wild ducks into a decoy.
(by extension, figurative) One employed to lure others into danger.
- 1626 February 1 (licensing date), John Fletcher [et al.], “The Faire Maide of the Inne”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii:
  if you give any credit to this jugling rascal, you are worse than simple widgins, and will be drawn into the net by this decoy-duck, this tame cheater.