decoy (English)
Where does "decoy" come from?
The word "decoy" originated from the Dutch term "de kooi," which literally translates to "the cage." This compound term, rooted in the Latin "cavea" for a hollow cavity and the Proto-Germanic word for "that," originally referred to a specialized netting structure used by hunters to entrap wild ducks. Over time, the meaning broadened from this specific hunting trap to the general concept of using any person or object as a lure to lead others into danger.
Full etymology tree
- decoy (English), 'A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.'
- compound de (Dutch), 'the; definite article, masculine and feminine singular, plural'
- inherited die (Middle Dutch), 'the; definite article.'
- inherited thie (Old Dutch), 'that, that one'
- inherited thē (Old Dutch)
- inherited *sa (Proto-Germanic), 'that'
- inherited *só (Proto-Indo-European), 'this'
- inherited *sa (Proto-Germanic), 'that'
- inherited thē (Old Dutch)
- inherited thie (Old Dutch), 'that, that one'
- inherited die (Middle Dutch), 'the; definite article.'
- compound kooi (Dutch), 'cage'
- inherited coye (Middle Dutch)
- inherited cavea (Latin), 'hollow, cavity'
- inherited cavus (Latin), 'hollow, hollowed out, cavernous, concave'
- inherited *kawos (Proto-Italic)
- inherited *ḱowh₁ós (Proto-Indo-European)
- derived *ḱewh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to swell'
- inherited *ḱowh₁ós (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *kawos (Proto-Italic)
- inherited cavus (Latin), 'hollow, hollowed out, cavernous, concave'
- inherited cavea (Latin), 'hollow, cavity'
- inherited coye (Middle Dutch)
- compound de (Dutch), 'the; definite article, masculine and feminine singular, plural'
Direct ancestors
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris