stratagem Look up stratagem at Dictionary.com
"artifice, trick," 1489, from M.Fr. stratagème "trick, especially to outwit an enemy," from It. stratagemma, from L. strategema "artifice, stratagem," from Gk. strategema "the act of a general, military stratagem," from strategein "to be a general, command," from strategos "general" (see strategy).