bite

bite
{{11}}bite (n.) c.1200, from BITE (Cf. bite) (v).
{{12}}bite (v.) O.E. bitan (class I strong verb; past tense bat, pp. biten), from P.Gmc. *bitan (Cf. O.S. bitan, O.N., O.Fris. bita, M.Du. biten, Du. bijten, Ger. beissen, Goth. beitan "to bite"), from PIE root *bheid- "to split, crack" (see FISSURE (Cf. fissure)).
To bite the bullet is said to be 1700s military slang, from old medical custom of having the patient bite a lead bullet during an operation to divert attention from pain and reduce screaming. Figurative use from 1891; the custom itself attested from 1840s. To bite (one's) tongue "refrain from speaking" is 1590s. To bite the dust "die" is 1750 (Latin had the same image; Cf. Virgil: procubuit moriens et humum semel ore momordit). To bite off more than one can chew (c.1880) is U.S. slang, from plug tobacco.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • bite — ou bitte [ bit ] n. f. • 1584; du norm. bitter « boucher », de l a. scand. bita « mordre » ♦ Vulg. Pénis. ⊗ HOM. Beat, bit, bitte. ● bitte ou bite nom féminin (ancien français abiter, copuler, de bitter à, toucher à, de l ancien scandinave bita,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Bite — (b[imac]t), v. t. [imp. {Bit} (b[i^]t); p. p. {Bitten} (b[i^]t t n), {Bit}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Biting}.] [OE. biten, AS. b[=i]tan; akin to D. bijten, OS. b[=i]tan, OHG. b[=i]zan, G. beissen, Goth. beitan, Icel. b[=i]ta, Sw. bita, Dan. bide, L.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bite — Bite, n. [OE. bite, bit, bitt, AS. bite bite, fr. b[=i]tan to bite, akin to Icel. bit, OS. biti, G. biss. See {Bite}, v., and cf. {Bit}.] 1. The act of seizing with the teeth or mouth; the act of wounding or separating with the teeth or mouth; a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bite — ► VERB (past bit; past part. bitten) 1) use the teeth to cut into something. 2) (of a snake, insect, or spider) wound with a sting, pincers, or fangs. 3) (of a fish) take the bait or lure on the end of a fishing line into the mouth. 4) (of a tool …   English terms dictionary

  • bite — bite, gnaw, champ, gnash are comparable when they mean to attack with or as if with the teeth. Bite fundamentally implies a getting of the teeth, especially the front teeth, into something so as to grip, pierce, or tear off {bite an apple deeply} …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • bite — [baɪt] noun [countable] COMPUTING another spelling of byte * * * Ⅰ. bite UK US /baɪt/ verb [I] ● start/begin to bite Cf. start/begin to bite …   Financial and business terms

  • Bite Me — is typically used as an idiomatic expression of discontent or aggravation toward another party. It may also refer to: * Bite Me , a song by Detroit based rock band Electric Six on their second album Senor Smoke * Bite Me (song), a song from the… …   Wikipedia

  • BiTE — (acronym for bi specific T cell engagers ), a class of specific modified antibodies that direct a host s T cells cytotoxic activity against diseased cells (e.g cancer cells).Several products that have come under close scrutiny in a few… …   Wikipedia

  • bite — [bīt] vt. bit [bit] bitten [bit′ n] or biting [ME biten < OE bītan < IE base * bheid , to split, crack > BEETLE1, BITTER, L findere, to split (see FISSION)] …   English World dictionary

  • bite — [n1] injury from gripping, tearing chaw*, chomp*, gob*, itch*, laceration, nip, pain, pinch, prick, smarting, sting, tooth marks*, wound; concept 309 bite [n2] mouthful of food brunch, drop, light meal, morsel, nibble, nosh*, piece, refreshment,… …   New thesaurus

  • bite at — ˈbite at [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they bite at he/she/it bites at past tense bit at past participle bitten at] …   Useful english dictionary

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