ploy
UK[plɔɪ]US[plɔɪ]
n
A cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.
n
A tactic or strategy used in a game, conversation, or other context.
Etymology
The word 'ploy' entered English in the late 17th century, originally as a term in card games like piquet, meaning a specific move or turn. It derives from the French verb 'ployer', meaning "to bend" or "to fold," which itself comes from the Latin verb 'plicāre', sharing the same core meaning. The semantic evolution from the physical act of bending or folding to a strategic maneuver is a classic metaphorical extension, where a flexible action in a game became synonymous with a clever tactical move. This abstract sense of a cunning plan designed to gain an advantage became the dominant meaning in modern English, fully detached from its physical origins.
Analysis
The word 'ploy' is a simplex word. It is a loanword from French, where 'ployer' means "to bend." Its ultimate origin is Latin 'plicāre', meaning "to fold."
Examples
His main ploy was to distract the guard while his partner entered the building.
The marketing ploy of offering a free sample successfully attracted new customers.
She saw through his conversational ploy to change the subject.