stool pigeon
Underworld tattler type
A stool pigeon is an informer, especially a criminal who secretly reports to police about other criminals' activities.
The term carries strong connotations of betrayal and untrustworthiness: The gang discovered he'd been a stool pigeon for years.
Originally from the practice of tying a pigeon to a stool as a decoy to lure other birds.
One who tells authorities
- ratRodent or informer
- finkContemptible informer
- informerOne who reveals secrets
- tattletaleOne who informs on others
squealer · narc · tipster · whistleblower · source · leak · cooperator · witness
Rodent or informer
- canaryYellow caged songbird
- snitchOne who tells authorities
- grassNarrow-leaved ground cover
- narkPolice tipster, slang
squealer · fink · cheese eater · weasel · singing · ratting · snitching · informing
One who betrays allegiance
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- JudasArchetypal betrayer name
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
double-crosser · sellout · quisling · defector · collaborator · fifth columnist · double-dealer · treachery
Intentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- infiltratorOne who enters covertly
- plantBotanical organism
- secretConcealed information
spy · undercover agent · surveillance · sting operation · entrapment · wiretap · cloak-and-dagger · incognito
snitch
One who tells authorities
tattletale · squealer · narc · tipster · whistleblower · source · leak · cooperator · witness · mole
rat
Rodent or informer
nark · squealer · fink · cheese eater · weasel · singing · ratting · snitching · informing · talking
traitor
One who betrays allegiance
backstabber · double-crosser · sellout · quisling · defector · collaborator · fifth columnist · double-dealer · treachery · perfidy
covert
Intentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- infiltratorOne who enters covertly
- plantBotanical organism
secret · spy · undercover agent · surveillance · sting operation · entrapment · wiretap · cloak-and-dagger · incognito · shadowy
- bird expressionsearly bird, birdbrain, bird brain, lovebirds, jailbird
- Informerssnitch, informer, informant, fink, squealer
- noir slanggumshoe, femme fatale, private eye, shamus, peeper
- snitchessnitching, telling, ratting, squealing, informing
- underworld slangsnitch, rat out, hitman, capo, consigliere
- bird wordsrobin, eagle, swan, sparrow, crow
stool pigeonride-or-die
Utterly unwavering ally
solid · true believer · keeper of secrets · omertà · blood brother
stool pigeonfugitive
One fleeing authorities
outlaw · public enemy · rebel · dissident · resistance fighter
stool pigeonfugitive
One fleeing authorities
outlaw · holdout · stonewaller · hostile witness · cop killer