■ noun
1》 a pretext used to conceal someone's real intentions.
↘a candidate for the leadership of a political party who stands only in order to provoke the election and thus allow a stronger candidate to come forward.
2》 a screen in the shape of a horse behind which a hunter hides when stalking prey.
Origin
C16: from the former practice of using a horse trained to allow a fowler to hide behind it.