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ploy

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ploy¹

  • /plɔɪ/

Rhymes with -ɔɪ

Where it comes from

Possibly from a shortened form of employ or deploy. Or from earlier ploye, from Middle English, borrowed from Middle French ployer (compare modern plier), from Latin plicāre.

noun ploys

  1. countable, uncountable A tactic, strategy, or scheme. Near-synonyms: ruse, stratagem, device
  2. Scotland, UK, countable, dialectal, uncountable Sport; frolic.
  3. countable, obsolete, uncountable Employment.

ploy²

  • /plɔɪ/

Rhymes with -ɔɪ

Where it comes from

Probably abbreviated from deploy.

verb ploys · ploying · ployed

  1. To form a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision. Troops drawn up so as to show an extended front, with slight depth, are said to be deployed; when the depth is considerable and the front comparatively small, they are said to be in ployed formation.

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