BAIT • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Bait

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noun

Bait n.

Any substance, esp. food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, inclosure, or net.

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.

Bait bug (Zool.), a crustacean of the genus Hippa found burrowing in sandy beaches. See Anomura.

verb

Bait v. t. (past & past part. baited; pres. part. baiting)

To provoke and harass; esp., to harass or torment for sport; as, to bait a bear with dogs; to bait a bull.

To give a portion of food and drink to, upon the road; as, to bait horses.

To furnish or cover with bait, as a trap or hook. "A crooked pin... baited with a vile earthworm."

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." "My lord's coach conveyed me to Bury, and thence baiting at Newmarket."

Bait 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."

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Etymology of 'Bait'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Bait" Quotes from Famous Books

... the novelty of its freedom to think of flying at first farther than the nearest thick shrub. So, having noticed where it has flown to, we must fetch the trap-cage without losing a moment, put in a hen from the aviary as call-bird, a few grains of hemp as bait, stand the cage on a box, or anything else, close to the bush, and watch from some point out of sight. In less than ten minutes we shall most likely have caught the ...

— Harper's Young People, May 25, 1880 - An Illustrated Weekly • Various

... whip and spur upon the return. This town just entered, not staying to bait: that village passed by: leaves the wind behind him; in a ...

— Clarissa, Or The History Of A Young Lady, Volume 8 • Samuel Richardson

... cautioned her against economy. "That bargain-hunting remark was only a bait. Remember, Gus Briskow wants them to have everything, and be everything they should be, regardless of expense. Why, both he and I would like nothing better than to have Allegheny look like you, if ...

— Flowing Gold • Rex Beach

... safe bait, is a woman, all the world over," said the spokesman, "and this one's finished her part of the business well enough. Now our parts have got to be done. Some time to-night you received a token. ...

— Princess Maritza • Percy Brebner

... for the scene presented the animated appearance for which, on any fine spring day, all the choicest haunts of ancient quietude in Italy are becoming yearly more remarkable. There were clamorous beggars at all the sculptured portals, and bait for beggars, in abundance, trailing in and out of them under convoy of loquacious ciceroni. I forget just how I apportioned the responsibility, of intrusion, for it was not long before fellow- tourists ...

— Italian Hours • Henry James

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