stratagem

Etymology

From Middle English stratageme, from Old French stratageme, from Latin strategema, from Ancient Greek στρατήγημα (stratḗgēma, “the act of a general, a piece of generalship”), from στρατηγέω (stratēgéō, “to be a general, command an army”), from στρατηγός (stratēgós, “a general, the leader or commander of an army”). See strategy.

noun

1. A tactic or artifice designed to gain the upper hand, especially one involving underhanded dealings or deception.
   While Collins does include a love triangle, a coming-of-age story, and other YA-friendly elements in the mix, they serve as a Trojan horse to smuggle readers into a hopeless world where love becomes a stratagem and growing up is a matter of basic survival. March 22 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club, The Hunger Games
2. Specifically, such a tactic or artifice in military operation.
3. (uncountable) Military deception or artifice.
4. (uncountable) Cunning and artifice in general.
5. (obsolete) A violent deed.