plaything

A thing or person intended for playing with.

[S]he haſtily retired, taking with her her little Girl, whoſe Eyes were all over blubbered at the melancholy News ſhe heard of Jones, who uſed to call her his little Wife, and not only gave her many Playthings, but ſpent whole Hours in playing with her himſelf.

1856: Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary, Part III Chapter XI, translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling The next day Charles had the child brought back. She asked for her mamma. They told her she was away; that she would bring her back some playthings.

A person at the mercy of fate.

We talk of our energies and of our will—we are the mere playthings of subtle and malignant chances.

Used for the purpose of play or amusement.

Like the cards which form a child's plaything palace, our pleasures are nicely balanced one upon the other.