stooge

== English == === Etymology === Perhaps an abbreviation of Russian студе́нт (studént) [stʊˈdʲent]; the original meaning was “stage assistant, actor who assists a comedian”. It may have been a Yiddish vaudeville term. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /stuːd͡ʒ/ Rhymes: -uːd͡ʒ === Noun === stooge (plural stooges) One who knowingly allows himself or herself to be used for another's profit; a dupe. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:loyal follower (magic) A magician's assistant who pretends to be a member of the audience. (comedy) A straight man. A secret informant for police. (psychology) A confederate; a person who is secretly working for the researcher, unknown to the study participant. Synonym: confederate ==== Translations ==== === Verb === stooge (third-person singular simple present stooges, present participle stooging, simple past and past participle stooged) (intransitive) To act as a straight man. === See also === claque === References === === Anagrams === Otsego, goes to