STOOL PIGEON

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stool pigeon mean? 

• STOOL PIGEON (noun)
  The noun STOOL PIGEON has 2 senses:

1. someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police

2. a dummy pigeon used to decoy others

  Familiarity information: STOOL PIGEON used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STOOL PIGEON (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

canary; fink; sneak; sneaker; snitch; snitcher; stool pigeon; stoolie; stoolpigeon

Hypernyms ("stool pigeon" is a kind of...):

betrayer; blabber; informer; rat; squealer (one who reveals confidential information in return for money)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A dummy pigeon used to decoy others

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("stool pigeon" is a kind of...):

bait; decoy; lure (something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed)

 Context examples 

I don’t stand for that, mister, but there’s a stool pigeon or a cross somewhere, and it’s up to you to find out where it is.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)