bait etymology

Etymology:

  • Middle English: baite, from Anglo-Norman bait, diminutive of Old Norse beita ("pasture, food for animals")
  • Old Norse beita is derived from the Proto-Germanic form *baitja, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *bha-i- ("to nourish")

Meaning:

  • Bait:
    • A substance used to attract and capture prey or game.
    • A lure or enticement used to attract or entice someone.
    • A small amount of food or drink taken to relieve hunger or thirst.
    • A piece of meat or fish used as bait for fishing.

Origin:

The word "bait" originally referred to pasture or food for animals in Old Norse. It was later adopted into Middle English as "baite" and specifically used for the food used to trap animals. Over time, the meaning expanded to include any type of lure or enticement. The term "bait" is also used in fishing to describe the piece of bait used to attract and catch fish.

bait relate terms

  • bait

    Etymology Middle English baite from Anglo Norman bait diminutive of Old Norse beita

  • bite

    Etymology The word bite comes from the Old English word bitan which means to cut or

  • lure

    Etymology The word lure comes from the Middle English word lure which in turn comes

  • decoy

    Etymology Early 17th century probably from obsolete Middle French decoy from Old Fren

  • tease

    Etymology Tease originated from Middle English tesen which meant to card wool or fl

  • abet

    Etymology Abet Middle English from Old French abeter from abeter infinitive of abet

  • ledger

    Etymology The word ledger comes from the Middle English word legger which in turn come

  • silver

    Etymology The word silver derives from Old English seolfor or seolfer which in tu

  • jolly

    Etymology The word jolly comes from the Middle English word joly which in turn comes

  • rally

    Etymology The word rally comes from the Old French word rallier which means to gath

  • rule

    Etymology Derived from the Old French word reule which in turn comes from the Latin