ploy
- 01 C2 Proficiency
v.to move soldiers from a wide line into a narrow column.
v.to reduce the front of a military formation by forming a column from a line of troops.
Simple“The commander ordered the battalion to ploy as they entered the narrow valley.”
In context“The infantry was ordered to ploy into columns to facilitate a rapid advance through the restricted terrain of the mountain pass.”
UsageThis term is specific to historical or formal military maneuvers and is the opposite of 'deploy'.
Antonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
n.a fun activity, a game, or a bit of excitement.
n.an escapade, frolic, or social entertainment.
Simple“The children were looking for some new ploy to keep themselves busy.”
In context“After the formal dinner, the younger guests headed to the village green for a bit of a ploy.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is primarily found in Scottish English and Northern British dialects; in standard international English, the 'tactic' sense is much more common.
Synonyms
Possibly from a shortened form of employ or deploy. Or from earlier ploye, from Middle English, borrowed from Middle French ployer (compare modern plier), from Latin plicāre.
Probably abbreviated from deploy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.