Bait
bait (bat), n. (Icel. beitafood, beit pasture, akin to AS. bat 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.
2. Anything which allures; a lure; enticement;
temptation. Fairfax.
3. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment
taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
4. A light or hasty luncheon.
Bait bug (Zool.), a crustacean of the
genus Hippa found burrowing in sandy beaches. See
Anomura.
bait , v. t. (imp. p. pr. n, to feed, harass, fr. Icel.
beita, orig., to cause to bite, fr. bita. r87.
See Bite.)
1. To provoke and harass; esp., to harass or
torment for sport; as, to bait a bear with dogs; to bait a
bull.
2. To give a portion of food and drink to, upon the
road; as, to bait horses. Holland.
3. To furnish or cover with bait, as a trap or
hook.
A crooked pin . . . baited with a vile earthworm.
W. Irving.
bait , v. i. To stop to take a portion offood and drink for refreshment of ones self or ones beasts, on a
journey.
Evil news rides post, while good news baits.
Milton.
My lords coach conveyed me to Bury, and thence
baiting at Newmarket.
Evelyn.
bait , v. i. (F. battre de laile (ordes 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.
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