• enPR: bāt, IPA^(key): /beɪt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪt
• Homophone: bate

From Middle English bayte, bait, beite, from Old Norse beita (“food, bait”), from Proto-Germanic *baitō (“that which is bitten, bait”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to cleave, split, separate”). Cognate with German Beize (“mordant, corrosive fluid; marinade”), Old English bāt (“that which can be bitten, food, bait”). Related to bite.

bait (countable and uncountable, plural baits)

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

   attach bait to a hook

   catch a few using bait

2. Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.
3. Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something.
   • 2017 June 7, Adam Lusher, “Adnan Khashoggi: the 'whoremonger' whose arms deals funded a playboy life of decadence and 'pleasure wives'”, in The Independent‎^[1], London:

     One of the “girls” used in this way, Pamella Bordes, later spoke of being “part of an enormous group … used as sexual bait.”

   1. (as the head of a compound) Something that lures or entices a specified group.

      queerbait

      sequel bait

      Netflix bait

   2. (vulgar, sexuality) Someone that attracts or entices a specified sex act being done to them.

      somno bait

      snuff bait

4. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
   • 1824, Thomas Fielding, Select Proverbs of All Nations, page 132:

     A short stop, but no refreshment. Such baits are frequently given by the natives of the principality to their keffels, or horses, particularly after climbing a hill.

   • 1803 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter XX, in Northanger Abbey; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion.[…], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray,[…], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC, page page 70:

     The tediousness of a two hours' bait at Petty-France, in which there was nothing to be done but to eat without being hungry, and loiter about without any thing to see, next followed […]

   1. (Geordie, Durham) A packed lunch - the bite to eat a worker took with them to eat.
   2. (East Anglia) A small meal taken mid-morning while farming.
   3. (Northern England) A miner's packed meal.
   4. A light or hasty luncheon.
5. (Internet slang) A post intended to elicit a, usually strong or negative, reaction from others.

   Please stop posting bait, or I will have to mute you.

• (abbreviation) b8

bait (third-person singular simple present baits, present participle baiting, simple past and past participle baited)

1. (transitive) To attract with bait; to entice.
2. (transitive) To affix bait to a trap or a fishing hook or fishing line.
   • 1819 June 23 – 1820 September 13, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “(please specify the title)”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., New York, N.Y.: […] C[ornelius] S. Van Winkle,[…], →OCLC:

     a crooked pin […] baited with a vile earthworm

3. (transitive) To lay baits in an environment to control pest species.
4. (transitive) To target a pest species by laying baits.

• 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.

• (abbreviation) b8

• Scott Dobson, Dick Irwin, “bait”, in Newcastle 1970s: Durham & Tyneside Dialect Group‎^[2], archived from the original on 5 September 2024.
• Frank Graham, editor (1987), “BAIT”, in The New Geordie Dictionary, Rothbury, Northumberland: Butler Publishing, →ISBN.
• Northumberland Words, English Dialect Society, R. Oliver Heslop, 1893–4
• Todd's Geordie Words and Phrases, George Todd, Newcastle, 1977[3]
• Bill Griffiths, editor (2004), “bait”, in A Dictionary of North East Dialect, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear: Northumbria University Press, →ISBN.

From Middle English bayten, baiten, beiten, from Old Norse beita (“to bait, cause to bite, feed, hunt”), from Proto-Germanic *baitijaną (“to cause to bite, bridle”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to cleave, split, separate”). Cognate with Icelandic beita (“to bait”), Swedish beta (“to bait, pasture, graze”), German beizen (“to cause to bite, bait”), Old English bǣtan (“to bait, hunt, bridle, bit”).

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.

   to bait a bear with dogs

   to bait a bull

2. (transitive) To intentionally annoy, torment, or threaten by constant rebukes or threats; to harass.

   Synonyms: badger, hound; see also Thesaurus:pester

   • 1826 February 11 (date written), Walter Scott, “[Entry dated 11 February 1826]”, in David Douglas, editor, The Journal of Sir Walter Scott[…], volume I, Edinburgh: David Douglas, published 1890, →OCLC:

     I remember once before, a mad woman, from about Alnwick, by name baited me with letters and plans — first for charity for herself or some protégé — I gave my guinea— then she wanted to have half the profits of a novel which I was to publish under my name and auspices.

   • 2025 February 28, Jonah Goldberg, “Dishonor and Incompetence in the Oval Office”, in The Dispatch:

     But [US Vice President J.D.] Vance, the champion of diplomacy, shouldn’t have baited a war-weary man fighting for the survival of his country in the first place.

3. (transitive, archaic) To feed and water (a horse or other animal), especially during a journey.
   • 1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum ix”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book V, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur[…], London: David Nutt,[…], 1889, →OCLC:

     And than they com into a lowe medow that was full of swete floures, and there thes noble knyghtes bayted her horses.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene.[…], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 12:

     The Sunne that measures heauen all day long, / At night doth baite his steedes the Ocean waues emong.

   • 1894, Stanley J. Weyman, chapter VI, in Under the Red Robe:

     Before I could move in it, however, I had to wait until we stopped to bait the flagging horses, which we did about noon at the head of the valley.

4. (intransitive) Of a horse or other animal: to take food, especially during a journey.
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 22, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes[…], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount[…], →OCLC:

     King Cyrus, that he might more speedily receave news from al parts of his Empire (which was of exceeding great length), would needs have it tried how far a horse could in a day goe outright without baiting, at which distance he caused stations to be set up, and men to have fresh horses ready for al such as came to him.

   • 1821, John Clare, “[Poems.] Sunday Walks.”, in The Village Minstrel, and Other Poems, volume II, London: […] [T. Miller] for Taylor and Hessey,[…]; and E[dward] Drury,[…], →OCLC, pages 105–106:

     [H]orses' playful neigh, / From rustic's whips, and plough, and waggon, free, / Baiting in careless freedom o'er the leas, / Or turn'd to knap each other at their ease.

5. (intransitive) (of a person) To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment during a journey.
   • 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes,[…].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey[…], →OCLC, page 89, line 539:

     For evil news rides post, while good news baits.

   • 1677 September 23 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 13 September 1677]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn,[…], 2nd edition, volume II, London: Henry Colburn,[…]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch,[…], published 1819, →OCLC, part I, page 433:

     My Lord’s coach convey’d me to Bury, and thence baiting at Newmarket, stepping in at Audley End to see that house againe, I slept at Bishops Strotford, and the next day home.

   • 1731 (date written, published 1745), Jonathan Swift, “[Directions to Servants.] The Duty of Servants at Inns.”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift,[…], new edition, volume XVI, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson,[…], published 1801, →OCLC, page 174:

     When he [a servant's master] baits at noon, enter the inn gate before him, and call the ostler to hold your master's horse while he alights.

   • 1743, Robert Drury, The Pleasant, and Surprizing Adventures of Mr. Robert Drury, during his Fifteen Years Captivity on the Island of Madagascar‎^[4], London, page 62:

     At Break of Day we arose, and after a short Repast march’d on till Noon, when we baited among some shady Trees near a Pond of Water […]

• 👁 Image
  bait (dogs) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

French battre de l'aile or des ailes, to flap or flutter.

bait (third-person singular simple present baits, present participle baiting, simple past and past participle baited)

1. (obsolete, intransitive) To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a hawk when she stoops to her prey.
   • c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies[…] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:

     Kites that baite and beate.

Etymology unknown.

bait (comparative baiter, superlative baitest)

1. (MLE) Obvious; blatant.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:obvious

   • 2008, “Power”, in Famous?, performed by Jamie "Jme" Adenuga and Tim Westwood:

     I've been at home all day / Cloning £50 notes, this is sick / But it's a bit bait / Cause all the serial numbers are the same / So I can't spend them in the same place

2. (MLE) Well-known; famous; renowned.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:famous

   • 2017, “Bait Face”, in Godfather, performed by Richard "Wiley" Cowie and Ryan "Scratchy" Williams:

     My face is bait, I can't hide it

• Tony Thorne (2014), “bait”, in Dictionary of Contemporary Slang, 4th edition, London; […]: Bloomsbury

• tabi, IBAT, a bit, abit, bati

From Middle High German wīt, from Old High German wīt, from Proto-Germanic *wīdaz (“wide, broad”). Cognate with German weit, Dutch wijd, English wide, Icelandic víður.

bait (comparative baitor, superlative dar baitorste) (Sette Comuni, Luserna)

1. wide, broad

   an baitar bèg ― a wide road

   Dar bèg is bait. ― The road is wide.

2. distant, far

   Synonym: vèrre

• baitekhot

• “bait” in Martalar, Umberto Martello; Bellotto, Alfonso (1974), Dizionario della lingua Cimbra dei Sette Communi vicentini, 1st edition, Roana, Italy: Instituto di Cultura Cimbra A. Dal Pozzo

• IPA^(key): /ˈba.it/, [ˈba.ɪt̪̚]

Inherited from Malay bait, from Arabic بَيْت (bayt), from Proto-Semitic *bayt-.

bait (plural bait-bait)

1. house (abode)
2. home (house or structure in which someone lives)
3. (literature) couplet (a pair of lines in poetry)

   Synonyms: untai, kuplet

4. (literature) stanza (a unit of a poem, often in the form of a paragraph)

   Synonym: stanza

Borrowed from Malay bait, from English byte.

bait (plural bait-bait)

1. (nonstandard) alternative spelling of bita

• “bait”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

• (Baku) IPA^(key): /ˈbait/ [ˈba.it̪̚]

• (schwa-variety) IPA^(key): /ˈbaet/ [ˈba.et̪̚] (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this pronunciation?)
• Hyphenation: bait

Borrowed from Arabic بَيْت (bayt), from Proto-Semitic *bayt-.

bait (Jawi spelling بيت, plural bait-bait or bait²)

1. house (abode)
2. home (house or structure in which someone lives)
3. (literature) couplet (a pair of lines in poetry)

• → Indonesian: bait

From English byte.

bait (Jawi spelling باٴيت, plural bait-bait or bait²)

1. byte

• "bait" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017

• (phonetics) IPA^(key): [pˠɑːitˠ], (enunciated) [pˠɑ itˠ]
• (phonemic) IPA^(key): /pˠæɰjitˠ/
• Bender phonemes: {bahyit}

bait

1. boxing

bait

1. hit
2. punch

• Marshallese–English Online Dictionary

bait

1. alternative form of bayte

Unadapted borrowing from English bait.

bait m (plural baits)

1. (Internet slang) bait (post intended to elicit a reaction from others)

• “bait”, in Dicionário inFormal (in Portuguese), 2006–2026

bait m (plural baiți)

1. alternative form of byte

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bait. Compare Malay baik and Iban baik.

• IPA^(key): /ba.it̚/

bait

1. good-hearted; kind

   Pak Mail ya bait urangnya, tapi kekadang perangei nya kurang ajar sikit.

   Uncle Mail is a good-hearted person, but sometimes his attitude is a bit rude.

2. recovered (from a disease)

   Mudahan anak kitak cepat bait.

   Hopefully your child gets well soon.

3. careful

   Bait kau, lantei agik licin.

   Be careful, the floor is still slippery.

Especially used to describe a good behaviour, action, or similiar compared to bagus.

Unadapted borrowing from English bait

• IPA^(key): /ˈbeit/ [ˈbei̯t̪]
• Rhymes: -eit

bait m (plural baits) (Internet slang, colloquial)

1. joke

According to Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) prescriptions, unadapted foreign words should be written in italics in a text printed in roman type, and vice versa, and in quotation marks in a manuscript text or when italics are not available. In practice, this RAE prescription is not always followed.

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bait. Compare Central Bikol buot, Cebuano buot, Malay baik, and Māori pai.

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /baˈʔit/ [bɐˈʔɪt̪̚], (colloquial) /baˈʔet/ [bɐˈʔɛt̪̚]
• Rhymes: -it
• Syllabification: ba‧it

baít (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜁᜆ᜔)

1. kindness

   Synonyms: kabaitan, kabutihang-loob, kagandahang-loob

2. senses; clear state of mind

   Synonyms: sentido, sentido-komun, huwisyo, isip

3. prudence; cautiousness

   Synonyms: timpi, pigil

4. docility; domesticity

• tabi, taib, bati

• baet

bait

1. (literary) second-person singular imperfect subjunctive of bod

• byddit
• byddet

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