ruse de guerren.
/ˌruːz də ˈɡɛː/, U.S. /ˌruz də ˈɡɛ(ə)r/, /ˌrus də ˈɡɛ(ə)r/ A stratagem; esp. one intended to deceive an enemy in war. Hence: a justifiable trick or deception.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > war > war as profession or skill > [noun] > military artifice > piece of
stratagem1489
feint1683
ruse de guerre1769
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun] > a trick, deception > justifiable
ruse de guerre1769
1769 R. Griffith Gordian Knot xviii, in R. Griffith & E. Griffith Two Novels III. 62 We have received the sad catastrophe of your story, and felt ourselves extremely shocked, at one part, and offended at another part of it, relative to Sir William's ruse de guerre.
1799 J. G. Semple Life J. G. Semple Lisle xi. 111 A circumstance which would give an air of truth to the Ruse de Guerre I meant to play upon them.
1814 M. Edgeworth Patronage III. xxxii. 302 I..thought even your praises of Rosamond's disposition..might only be ruse de guerre, or ruse d'amour.
1888 Academy 10 Nov. 300/2 Stubborn party duels, ruses de guerre, and all the heiving and hacking of the parliamentary fray.
1922 J. Buchan Huntingtower v. 84 ‘It was an abominable lie.’.. ‘Not at all. It was a necessary and proper ruse de guerre.’
1938 ‘C. S. Forester’ Flying Colours i. 8 That had been a legitimate ruse de guerre for which historical precedents..could be quoted.
1962 Times 24 Apr. 12/6 It [sc. martial music] was no longer used as a ruse de guerre.
1998 New Yorker 26 Oct. 220/1 We came up with a ruse de guerre. We faked auto-annihilation and moved our whole operation underground.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1769