bait
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Etymology 1
From Old Norse beita (“food”), from Proto-Germanic *baitōn.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Translations
substance used in catching fish
anything which allures
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] References
- Newcastle 1970s, Scott Dobson and Dick Irwin, [1]
- The New Geordie Dictionary, Frank Graham, 1987, ISBN 0946928118
- Northumberland Words, English Dialect Society, R. Oliver Heslop, 1893-4[2]
- Todd's Geordie Words and Phrases, George Todd, Newcastle, 1977[3]
- A Dictionary of North East Dialect, Bill Griffiths, 2005, Northumbria University Press, ISBN 1904794165
[edit] Etymology 2
From Old Norse beita (“to bait, to cause to bite”), from Proto-Germanic *baitijanan.
[edit] Verb
bait (third-person singular simple present baits, present participle baiting, simple past and past participle baited)
- (transitive) To set dogs on (an animal etc.) to bite or worry; to attack with dogs, especially for sport.
- (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.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book V:
- (transitive) To attract with bait; to entice.
- (transitive) To affix bait to a fishing hook or fishing line.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Translations
to attract with bait
[edit] See also
Baiting on Wikipedia.Wikipedia:Bait (dogs)
