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deke (v.)
< decoy
DCHP-3 (Apr 2025)
Spelling variants:deek
1v. — Hockey, now also in other Sports
a movement of feinting, thus getting in a better position for play.
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — The term is an early to mid-20th century coinage (see the 1943 quotation) that can also combined with the article "out": deke out. As a clipping of decoy, the spellings deek and deke, the former as a minor form today, are available. The form deke is most frequent in Canada (see Chart 1).
See: deke (n.)
Quotations
1961
He deked around a Soo defenceman but was spun off balance from behind before he could get his shot away.
1968
Then Shach comes straight in with the puck, dekes Gump and scores the winning goal.
1993
In hockey, the word "deke" describes the act of pulling another player out of position with a little faked motion. Turns out Zamboni drivers can deke too, and one pulled me out of position.
1943
Two of the brightest stickhandling spots, we thought, were supplied by Billy Taylor at the expense of Earl "Mr. Big" Seibert, the Chicago defenseman who rates a tag in most circles as hockey's top rear-guards. Billy nearly "deked" Seibert out of position late in the second period, then swung around him as impishly as a little boy snatching a Christmas candy stick from the big brother.
1945
"I deked (feinted) the kid and he played me right," said Kennedy afterward " he dived out and put his stick right against the puck. But I had all the time in the world and just pulled it back and flipped it over his stick."
1999
[Caption] DIPSY DOODLE MOVE: Former Fredericton Canadiens' star Arron Asham dekes out Calgary Flames' goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere during NHL exhibition action in Montreal. Flames beat the Habs 3-2.
2011
Then he headed for the net straddling the line and put the puck through Hugh Hooker's skates, picked it up and then deked another Nelson defender and somehow got Bill Mac Connell, the Maple Leafs stellar goalie, to pull off the post and Bill then slipped the puck in the short side. I've been watched [sic] hockey since 1955 live and on TV and I've never seen a goal scored that way.
2020
But no matter what goals he attains in the future, Thomas will always be known for his highlight-reel goal in which he sped in on a loose puck and managed to deke out the Russian goalie and score.
2025
And when those passing opportunities weren't there, Hughes played pond hockey. He outlegged and deked defenders to quickly spin and get shots away.
2av. — Figurative language, often "deke into"
to be forced into something.
Type: 3. Semantic Change — This meaning is a generalization from the Hockey context.
Quotations
1974
I only went to one reunion. About 1948. In Winnipeg. I was sort of deked into it but anyway I went.
1981
After we found out that the video capacity and all the other media services had been put under this coordinator's charge, we found out that he'd moved afield to bring in experts, actors, etc., to assist. I think it's obscene. I believe that it should be stopped. I think that the minister has been deked into it by the Premier, his friend. He's been a true and trusted minister, as far as that Premier is concerned — a humble and obedient servant.
2011
If the Orioles have to beat the Jays, let them do it with veterans. You know how people always say stuff like, "whatever you do, don't let Guerrero beat you?" Not this time. Now it's, "whatever you do, don't let anyone other than Guerrero beat you." The idea being, if the Orioles have a disproportionate amount of success because of their veterans, they may be deked into crippling their own youth movement, to their long-term detriment.
2bv. — Figurative language, often "deke into"
to secretly move.
Type: 3. Semantic Change — This meaning is a generalization from the Hockey context.
Quotations
2021
Walker McColman left a convenience store with police following him. He noticed cops on his tail and deked into his parents’ driveway which was serendipitously right there.
Images
