bait

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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)

  1. Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.
  2. Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.
  3. Anything which allures; a lure; enticement; temptation.
  4. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
  5. 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
[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)

  1. (transitive) To set dogs on (an animal etc.) to bite or worry; to attack with dogs, especially for sport.
  2. (transitive) To intentionally annoy, torment, or threaten by constant rebukes or threats; to harass.
  3. (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.
  4. (transitive) To attract with bait; to entice.
  5. (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
[edit] See also

[edit] Anagrams

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