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bait

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bait¹

  • /beɪt/

Sounds like bate · Rhymes with -eɪt

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd-

Proto-Indo-European *-t

Proto-Indo-European *bʰéydt

Proto-Germanic *bītaną

Proto-Indo-European *-yeti

Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti

Proto-Germanic *-janą

Proto-Germanic *baitijaną

Old Norse beitabor.

Middle English bayte

English bait

From Middle English bayte, bait, beite, from Old Norse beita (“food, bait”), from Proto-Germanic *baitō (“that which is bitten, bait”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to cleave, split, separate”). Cognate with German Beize (“mordant, corrosive fluid; marinade”), Old English bāt (“that which can be bitten, food, bait”). Related to bite.

noun baits · b8

  1. countable, uncountable Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net. attach bait to a hook
  2. countable, uncountable Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.
  3. countable, uncountable Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something. One of the “girls” used in this way, Pamella Bordes, later spoke of being “part of an enormous group … used as sexual bait.”
  4. countable, uncountable Something that lures or entices a specified group. queerbait
  5. countable, uncountable, vulgar Someone that attracts or entices a specified sex act being done to them. somno bait
  6. countable, uncountable A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment. A short stop, but no refreshment. Such baits are frequently given by the natives of the principality to their keffels, or horses, particularly after climbing a hill.
  7. Durham, Geordie, countable, uncountable A packed lunch - the bite to eat a worker took with them to eat.
  8. East Anglia, countable, uncountable A small meal taken mid-morning while farming.
  9. Northern England, countable, uncountable A miner's packed meal.
  10. countable, uncountable A light or hasty luncheon.
  11. Internet, countable, uncountable A post intended to elicit a, usually strong or negative, reaction from others. Please stop posting bait, or I will have to mute you.

verb baits · baiting · baited · b8

  1. transitive To attract with bait; to entice.
  2. transitive To affix bait to a trap or a fishing hook or fishing line. a crooked pin […] baited with a vile earthworm
  3. transitive To lay baits in an environment to control pest species.
  4. transitive To target a pest species by laying baits.

bait²

  • /beɪt/

Sounds like bate · Rhymes with -eɪt

Where it comes from

From Middle English bayten, 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 baits · baiting · baited

  1. 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
  2. transitive To intentionally annoy, torment, or threaten by constant rebukes or threats; to harass. I remember once before, a mad woman, from about Alnwick, by name baited me with letters and plans — first for charity for herself or some protégé — I gave my guinea— then she wanted to have half the profits of a novel which I was to publish under my name and auspices.
  3. archaic, transitive To feed and water (a horse or other animal), especially during a journey. And than they com into a lowe medow that was full of swete floures, and there thes noble knyghtes bayted her horses.
  4. intransitive Of a horse or other animal: to take food, especially during a journey. 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
  5. intransitive (of a person) To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment during a journey. For evil news rides post, while good news baits.

bait³

  • /beɪt/

Sounds like bate · Rhymes with -eɪt

Where it comes from

French battre de l'aile or des ailes, to flap or flutter.

verb baits · baiting · baited

  1. intransitive, obsolete To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a hawk when she stoops to her prey. Kites that baite and beate.

bait⁴

  • /beɪt/

Sounds like bate · Rhymes with -eɪt

Where it comes from

Etymology unknown.

adjective baiter · baitest

  1. Multicultural London English Obvious; blatant. I've been at home all day / Cloning £50 notes, this is sick / But it's a bit bait / Cause all the serial numbers are the same / So I can't spend them in the same place
  2. Multicultural London English Well-known; famous; renowned. My face is bait, I can't hide it

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