bitey

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbaɪti/
  • (General American) IPA^(key): [ˈbaɪ̯ɾi]

Etymology 1

From bite +‎ -y (suffix forming adjectives). Compare West Frisian bitsich (“snappy”), Saterland Frisian bieterg (“snappish”), German Low German bittsig (“snappy”), German bissig (“snappy, snappish”).

Adjective

bitey (comparative bitier, superlative bitiest)

1. (informal) Inclined to bite.
   • 2005, Tom Widdicombe, Be with Your Horse: Getting to the Heart of Horsemanship:

     So when someone tells you their little trick for dealing with a bitey horse, just remember that that is what it is — a little trick.

   • 2006, Sean Dooley, The Big Twitch: One Man, One Continent, a Race Against Time:

     It has all the beauty of an idyllic tropical island without any of the nasty, bitey stuff.

2. Having a sharp or spicy flavor.

Derived terms

• biteyness
• bitey thing

Etymology 2

From bite +‎ -y (suffix forming nouns).

Noun

bitey (plural biteys)

1. (Australia) An animal that bites or stings.