From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpatsypat‧sy /ˈpætsi/ noun (plural patsies) [countable] especially American English informal TRICK/DECEIVEsomeone who is easily tricked or deceived, especially so that they take the blame for someone else’s crime
Examples from the Corpus
patsy• But he did indeed run a patsy against Stratton in 1956.• Others, especially politicians, say Daley promised Stratton that he would run a patsy against him in 1956.• She was the victim of love: sticker and patsy for her own sloppy heart.• They looked at him miserably-another patsy for the collection.• He usually plays older brothers, blushing patsies, jumpy sidekicks, all-smiles Ivy Leaguers.• In fact, the original patsy dropped out because of a scandal and was replaced by an even softer patsy.PatsyPatsy a character in the humorous British television programme Absolutely Fabulous, played by the actress Joanna Lumley. Patsy Stone is an upper class woman and works for a fashion magazine but spends most of her time drinking alcohol, taking drugs, and shopping in expensive clothes shops.Origin patsy (1800-1900) Perhaps from Italian pazzo “stupid person” 