bait

bait
{{11}}bait (n.) "food put on a hook or trap to lure prey," c.1300, from O.N. beita "food," related to O.N. beit "pasture," O.E. bat "food," lit. "to cause to bite" (see BAIT (Cf. bait) (v.)). Figurative sense "anything used as a lure" is from c.1400. The verb in this sense, "to put food on a hook or in a trap," is attested from c.1300, probably from the noun.
{{12}}bait (v.) "to torment or goad (someone unable to escape, and to take pleasure in it)," c.1300, beyten, a figurative use from the literal sense of "to set dogs on," from the medieval entertainment of setting dogs on some ferocious animal to bite and worry it (the literal use is attested from c.1300); from O.N. beita "to cause to bite," from P.Gmc. *baitan (Cf. O.E. bætan "to cause to bite," O.H.G. beizzen "to bait," M.H.G. beiz "hunting," Ger. beizen "to hawk, to cauterize, etch"), causative of *bitan (see BITE (Cf. bite)); the causative word forked into the two meanings of "harass" and "food offered."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Bait — Bait, is a luring substance used, e.g., for angling.Bait may also refer to one of the following:* Animal baiting, using dogs to worry or torment a chained or confined animal.* Bait car, vehicle rigged by the police to catch auto thieves. * Bait… …   Wikipedia

  • Bait — (b[=a]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Baited}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Baiting}.] [OE. baiten, beit[=e]n, to feed, harass, fr. Icel. beita, orig., to cause to bite, fr. b[=i]ta. [root]87. See {Bite}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To provoke and harass; esp., to harass or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bait — BAIT, baiţi, s.m. (inform.) Ansamblu de biţi (de obicei 8) folosit pentru examinarea capacităţii de memorie (3). – Din engl. byte. Trimis de paula, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  bait s. m. (sil. bait), pl. baiţi Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa …   Dicționar Român

  • bait — vb Bait, badger, heckle, hector, chivy, hound, ride mean to persist in tormenting or harassing another. Bait derives its implications from its basic reference to the action of dogs set on to bite and worry an animal (as a chained bear, boar, or… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Bait — (b[=a]t), n. [Icel. beita food, beit pasture, akin to AS. b[=a]t food, Sw. bete. See {Bait}, v. t.] 1. Any substance, esp. food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, inclosure, or net. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • baiţ — BAIŢ, baiţuri, s.n. Colorant folosit în tâmplărie, în industria textilă, în tăbăcărie etc. – Din germ. Beize. Trimis de paula, 09.03.2002. Sursa: DEX 98  baiţ s. n., pl. báiţuri Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa: Dicţionar ortografic  BAIŢ… …   Dicționar Român

  • bait — bait; bait·tle; cad·bait; pre·bait; …   English syllables

  • bait — ► NOUN ▪ food put on a hook or in a trap to entice fish or other animals. ► VERB 1) taunt or tease. 2) set dogs on (a trapped or restrained animal). 3) put bait on or in. ● rise to the bait Cf. ↑rise to the bait …   English terms dictionary

  • bait — [bāt] vt. [ME baiten < ON beita < Gmc * baitian, caus. of * bitan: for base see BITE] 1. a) to set attacking dogs against [people formerly baited chained bears for sport] b) to attack as such dogs do 2. to torment or harass with unprovoked …   English World dictionary

  • Bait — (b[=a]t), v. i. [F. battre de l aile (or des ailes), to flap or flutter. See {Batter}, v. t.] To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a hawk when she stoops to her prey. Kites that bait and beat. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bait — [n] something for luring allurement, attraction, bribe, come on*, drag, enticement, inducement, lure, seducement, shill, snare, temptation, trap; concept 709 bait [v1] lure allure, attract, bedevil, beguile, draw, entice, fascinate, lead on,… …   New thesaurus

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