I. ˈstüj noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. : a subordinate participant in a comic act or dialogue whose function is to carry on repartee in such manner as to enable a principal comedian to make humorous remarks or appear in a humorous light : straight man
insults a stooge in the audience — A.J.Liebling
some boy would play … stooge to him in order that this masterstroke of wit should be demonstrated — Robertson Davies
2.
a. : one who plays a subordinate or compliant role to a principal or for some outside force or influence : charlie mccarthy
under such conditions directors are likely to be nothing more than paid stooges with far less independence of thought and action — Corporate Concentration & Public Policy
the editor driven into exile … and the hoax of a newspaper perpetrated with the help of stooges — B.E.Nelson
specifically : a subversive agent acting for one government against another
activities of their stooges in the countries of western and southern Europe — J.B.Reston
b. : puppet 4a
a belief that dominion statesmen were … mere stooges for astute imperialist rulers — D.W.Brogan
master strategists have infiltrated … stooges into the government — Atlantic
3. : a planted spy : stool pigeon
the company police … have stooges watching every move I make — Lawrence Lader
detectives began contacting informers … in hopes that one of these stooges would help put the finger on the elusive bandit — Ray Strinnett
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to act as a stooge
stooged for the comedian before starting his own show
congressmen who stooge for the oil and mineral interests — New Republic
2. : to patrol or cruise in slow or routine flight
two hours of stooging it … 16,000 feet would find you utterly numb and stiff when you landed — J.R.D.Braham
— usually used with around
stooging around over the sea in all weathers — Ralph Michaelis