De‐coy″ (dē̍‐koi″), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Decoyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Decoying.] [Pref. de- + coy; orig., to quiet, soothe, caress, entice. See Coy.] To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap; to insnare; to allure; to entice; as, to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net.
Did to a lonely cot his steps decoy. Thomson.
E'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy,
The heart, distrusting, asks if this be joy. Goldsmith.
Syn. — To entice; tempt; allure; lure. See Allure.