A person who acts as a decoy; esp. the accomplice of a thief or sharper. Obsolete.

The member of a gang of swindlers who acts as a decoy; a lurking scoundrel, a sharper. Cf. barnacle, n.2 3b.

Perhaps in this sense used as the cant term for a decoy swindler: see quots., and cf. barnard, n.

A confederate of sharpers or swindlers, employed as a decoy; also (? with transferred notion of sense 11), one who is employed by robbers or…

transferred applied to a person; spec. one who allures or inveigles persons into the hands of swindlers (slang). Obsolete.

‘a species of roarer; one who in some way drew a man into a snare, to cheat or rob him’ (Nares). Obsolete slang.

A link-boy (link-boy, n.), esp. one who lures people into danger or ambush. Obsolete.

slang. A decoy, cheat, sharper. ? Obsolete.

U.S. A decoy-bird (perhaps short for stool-pigeon n. at compounds 2), esp. one used in shooting wildfowl; also a perch upon which a decoy-bird is…

(a) U.S. a pigeon fastened to a stool as a decoy; chiefly figurative of a person employed, especially by gamblers, as a decoy; (b) a police informer.

A person employed as a decoy or accomplice, such as a pretended player in a gambling house or a fictitious bidder at an auction, who colludes with…

British, Australian, and New Zealand Criminals' slang. A decoy or accomplice; esp. †(a) a person who lures others into gambling or a confidence…

British Criminals' slang. A decoy or accomplice, esp. one who lures others into gambling or who poses as a customer to encourage other buyers. Cf. bu…

U.S. slang. A swindler whose business it is to lead his victims to the rendezvous. Also, see quot. 1910.

North American slang. U.S. = shill, n. Now rare.

= shill, n.

A decoy or accomplice, esp. one posing as an enthusiastic or successful customer to encourage other buyers, gamblers, etc.