1. (n.) A goat upon whose head were symbolically placed the sins of the people, after which he was suffered to escape into the wilderness.

2. (n.) Hence, a person or thing that is made to bear blame for others.

burnt offering collection drink offering dupe ex voto offering fall guy front goat gull heave offering hecatomb holocaust human sacrifice immolation incense infanticide libation mactation man of straw mark oblation offering offertory patsy peace offering piacular offering sacramental offering sacrifice self-immolation self-sacrifice straw man sucker suttee sutteeism target thank offering victim votive offering whipping boy whole offering