Word Study
ploy
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun ploy has 2 senses
- ploy(n = noun.communication) gambit - an opening remark intended to secure an advantage for the speaker; Array is a kind of comment, input, remark
- ploy(n = noun.act) gambit, stratagem - a maneuver in a game or conversation; Array is a kind of maneuver, manoeuvre, tactical maneuver, tactical manoeuvre
CIDE DICTIONARY
ploy, n.
Sport; frolic. [1913 Webster]
ploy, v. i. [Prob. abbrev. fr. deploy.].
To form a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision; -- the opposite of deploy. Wilhelm. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
ploy, n. colloq. a stratagem; a cunning manoeuvre to gain an advantage.
Etymology
orig. Sc., 18th c.: orig. unkn.
THESAURUS
ploy
Byzantine intrigues, art, artful dodge, artifice, backstairs influence, bag of tricks, bat, bender, binge, blind, bluff, bosey, bout, bust, carousal, carouse, catch, celebration, chicanery, chouse, connections, conspiracy, contrivance, coup, craft, curve, curve-ball, cute trick, deals, debauch, deceit, design, device, dirty deal, dirty trick, dodge, drinking bout, escapade, expedient, fakement, fast deal, feint, fetch, ficelle, fling, gambit, game, games, gimmick, googly, grift, hocus-pocus, influence peddling, intrigue, intrigues, joker, juggle, jugglery, knavery, lark, little game, lobbying, lobbyism, maneuver, move, orgy, pass, play, plot, ploys, racket, randan, randy, red herring, revel, ropes, ruse, scheme, schemes, scurvy trick, shift, sleight, sleight of hand, sleight-of-hand trick, spree, stratagem, strategy, strings, subterfuge, tactic, tear, toot, trick, trickery, wile, wily device, wingding, wire-pulling, wires
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