Bait
Pronunciation
- IPA: /beɪt/
- Rhymes: -eɪt
Origin 1
From Middle English bait, beite, from Old Norse beita ("food, bait"), from Proto-Germanic *baitÅ ("that which is bitten, bait"), from Proto-Indo-European *bÊ°eyd- ("to cleave, split, separate"). Cognate with German Beize ("mordant, corrosive fluid; marinade; hunting"), Old English bÄt ("that which can be bitten, food, bait"). Related to bite.
Full definition of bait
Noun
bait
(plural baits)- Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.
- Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.
- Anything which allures; a lure; enticement; temptation.
- A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
- A light or hasty luncheon.
Usage notes
Used in Geordie dialect of English to denote your lunch at work as opposed to other meals. Also used in East Anglian dialect of English to denote a small meal taken mid-morning while farming, and in the North of England to denote a snack taken by miners to eat while working.
Derived terms
Verb
- (transitive) To attract with bait; to entice.
- (transitive) To affix bait to a trap or a fishing hook or fishing line.
- Washington Irvinga crooked pin ... bailed with a vile earthworm
Usage notes
This verb is sometimes confused in writing with the rare verb bate, which is pronounced identically; in particular, the expression with bated breath is frequently misspelled *with baited breath by writers unfamiliar with the verb bate.
Origin 2
From Middle English baiten, beiten, from Old Norse beita ("to bait, cause to bite, feed, hunt"), from Proto-Germanic *baitijaną ("to cause to bite, bridle"), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- ("to cleave, split, separate"). Cognate with Icelandic beita ("to bait"), Swedish beta ("to bait, pasture, graze"), German beizen ("to cause to bite, bait"), Old English bǣtan ("to bait, hunt, bridle, bit").
Verb
- (transitive) To set dogs on (an animal etc.) to bite or worry; to attack with dogs, especially for sport.to bait a bear with dogs; to bait a bull
- (transitive) To intentionally annoy, torment, or threaten by constant rebukes or threats; to harass.
- (transitive, now rare) To feed and water (a horse or other animal), especially during a journey.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book V:And than they com into a lowe medow that was full of swete floures, and there thes noble knyghtes bayted her horses.
- (intransitive) Of a horse or other animal: to take food, especially during a journey.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.22:King Cyrus, that he might more speedily receave news from al parts of his Empire (which was of exceeding great length), would needs have it tried how far a horse could in a day goe outright without baiting, at which distance he caused stations to be set up, and men to have fresh horses ready for al such as came to him.
- To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment during a journey.
- MiltonEvil news rides post, while good news baits.
- EvelynMy lord's coach conveyed me to Bury, and thence baiting at Newmarket.
Origin 3
French battre de l'aile or des ailes, to flap or flutter.