stool pigeon

stool pigeon
   a police informer
   Pigeons were tied to stools to lure other pigeons for capture:
    Perhaps the incident would have passed without further consequences, for the stool pigeon was no more popular among the guards, most of whom thought he had it coming. (Dodds, 1991)
   To stool is to inform against:
    ... stooled on a bank job in Michigan and git me four years. (Chandler, 1939)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Stool pigeon — Stool Stool, n. [AS. st[=o]l a seat; akin to OFries. & OS. st[=o]l, D. stoel, G. stuhl, OHG. stuol, Icel. st[=o]ll, Sw. & Dan. stol, Goth. st[=o]ls, Lith. stalas a table, Russ. stol ; from the root of E. stand. [root]163. See {Stand}, and cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stool pigeon — (USA) A stool pigeon is a police informer …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • stool pigeon — ► NOUN 1) a police informer. 2) a person acting as a decoy. ORIGIN so named from the original use of a pigeon fixed to a stool as a decoy …   English terms dictionary

  • stool pigeon — 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… …   Etymology dictionary

  • stool pigeon — [sto͞o′lē] n. ☆ n. 1. a pigeon or other bird used as a decoy 2. a person serving as a decoy 3. Informal a spy or informer, esp. for the police: also stoolie [sto͞o′lē] n …   English World dictionary

  • stool pigeon — index informant Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • stool pigeon — stool ,pigeon noun count INFORMAL someone who gives information to the police about criminals …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • stool pigeon — [n] informer betrayer, blabbermouth*, canary*, decoy, deep throat*, doublecrosser, fink*, informant, narc*, nark*, rat*, sneak, snitch, snitcher, source, squealer*, stoolie*, tattler, tattletale, tipster*, turncoat, weasel*, whistle blower;… …   New thesaurus

  • stool pigeon — noun 1. someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police • Syn: ↑fink, ↑snitch, ↑snitcher, ↑stoolpigeon, ↑stoolie, ↑sneak, ↑sneaker, ↑canary …   Useful english dictionary

  • stool pigeon — (USA)    A stool pigeon is a police informer.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    A person who acts as an informer, especially one who gives information to the police or the authorities, is called a stool pigeon.     I don t trust Jack. I… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

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