Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Bait?

\Bait\, n. [Icel. beita food, beit pasture, akin to AS. b[=a]t food, Sw. bete. See {Bait}, v. i.] 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} (Zo["o]l), a crustacean of the genus {Hippa} found burrowing in sandy beaches. See {Anomura}.
\Bait\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Baited}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Baiting}.] [OE. baiten, beit?n, to feed, harass, fr. Icel. beita, orig. to cause to bite, fr. b[=i]ta. [root]87. 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 . . . bailed with a vile earthworm. --W. Irving.
\Bait\, v. i. To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment of one's self or one's beasts, on a journey. Evil news rides post, while good news baits. --Milton. My lord's coach conveyed me to Bury, and thence baiting at Newmarket. --Evelyn.
\Bait\, v. i. [F. battre de l'aile (or des ailes), to flap or flutter. See {Batter}, v. i.] 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.