Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Bait"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Bait \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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Bait \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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Bait \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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
bait
n 1: anything that serves as an enticement [syn: {come-on}, {hook},
{lure}, {sweetener}]
2: something used to lure victims into danger [syn: {decoy}, {lure}]
v 1: harass with persistent criticism or carping; "The children
teased the new teacher"; "Don't ride me so hard over my
failure"; "His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a
jacket and tie" [syn: {tease}, {razz}, {rag}, {cod}, {tantalize},
{tantalise}, {taunt}, {twit}, {rally}, {ride}]
2: lure, entice, or entrap with bait
3: attack with dogs or set dogs upon
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