ploy

ploy
    n 1: an opening remark intended to secure an advantage for the
         speaker [syn: {gambit}, {ploy}]
    2: a maneuver in a game or conversation [syn: {ploy}, {gambit},
       {stratagem}]
    

Ploy \Ploy\, n.
   Sport; frolic. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
   [1913 Webster]
    

Ploy \Ploy\, v. i. [Prob. abbrev. fr. deploy.] (Mil.)
   To form a column from a line of troops on some designated
   subdivision; -- the opposite of deploy. --Wilhelm.
   [1913 Webster]
    

99 Moby Thesaurus words for "ploy":
      Byzantine intrigues, art, artful dodge, artifice,
      backstairs influence, bag of tricks, bat, bender, binge, blind,
      bluff, bosey, bout, bust, carousal, carouse, catch, celebration,
      chicanery, chouse, connections, conspiracy, contrivance, coup,
      craft, curve, curve-ball, cute trick, deals, debauch, deceit,
      design, device, dirty deal, dirty trick, dodge, drinking bout,
      escapade, expedient, fakement, fast deal, feint, fetch, ficelle,
      fling, gambit, game, games, gimmick, googly, grift, hocus-pocus,
      influence peddling, intrigue, intrigues, joker, juggle, jugglery,
      knavery, lark, little game, lobbying, lobbyism, maneuver, move,
      orgy, pass, play, plot, ploys, racket, randan, randy, red herring,
      revel, ropes, ruse, scheme, schemes, scurvy trick, shift, sleight,
      sleight of hand, sleight-of-hand trick, spree, stratagem, strategy,
      strings, subterfuge, tactic, tear, toot, trick, trickery, wile,
      wily device, wingding, wire-pulling, wires