Talk:Red herring
Very rough outline:
Red herring - General definition of the term as a plot device
Etymology - Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (R 803 Br): "A deliberate or sometimes unintentional diversion, which distracts from a line of enquiry or a topic under discussion. A red herring (i.e. one dried, smoked, and salted) drawn across a fox's path destroys the scent and faults the hounds".
Early example of phrase being used in sense of "plot device" if possible.
Example from Detective_fiction
Possibly an example of a visual red herring from film?
Benjamin Breakstone 19:05, 30 March 2008 (CDT)
Disambiguation?
Red herring (U.S. securities regulation) A preliminary registration statement that must be filed with the SEC describing a new issue of stock and the prospects of the issuing company.
Red herring (Scandinavian buffet) A small fish of the genus Clupea marinated in tomato sauce
Red herring (toxicology) A small fish of the genus Clupea that died of the Red Tide
Red Herring (publishing) a U.S. magazine and website about investing, emphasizing new technology.
Red herring (forensic icthyology) a frozen block of fish of the genus Clupea that was used to bludgeon the victim, and was thawed and served to the investigating detctives
Howard C. Berkowitz 21:27, 25 May 2008 (CDT)