# bait
## English
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /beɪt/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Rhymes: -eɪt
* Homophone: bate

### Etymology 1

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; hunting”), Old English bāt (“that which can be bitten, food, bait”). Related to bite.

#### Noun

bait (countable and uncountable, plural baits)
* 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
* Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.
* 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, London:One of the “girls” used in this way, Pamella Bordes, later spoke of being “part of an enormous group … used as sexual bait.”
** (as the head of a compound) Something that lures or entices a specified group
    queerbait
    sequel bait
    Netflix bait
* 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 […]
** (Geordie, Durham) A packed lunch - the bite to eat a worker took with them to eat
** (East Anglia) A small meal taken mid-morning while farming.
** (Northern England) A miner's packed meal.
** A light or hasty luncheon.
* (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.

##### Alternative forms

* (abbreviation) b8

##### Derived terms

* -bait
* baitable
* bait advertising
* bait and switch
* bait-and-switch
* bait ball
* bait bill
* bait bills
* bait boat
* bait box
* bait bug
* bait car
* baitcaster
* baitcasting
* bait-cord
* bait dog
* baitfish
* baitholder
* baithook
* baiting
* baitless
* bait money
* baitshop
* bait up
* baitware
* baitwell
* baitworm
* baity
* bear-bait
* bearbait, bear bait
* buzzard bait
* buzzbait
* clickbait
* click bait
* click-bait
* crankbait
* craybait
* crowbait
* cut bait
* dickbait
* fishbait
* fish or cut bait
* flame bait
* flamebait
* fuckbait
* fujobait
* gaybait
* groundbait
* jail-bait
* jail bait
* jailbait
* jebait
* ledger bait
* link-bait
* link bait
* linkbait
* nonbaited
* Oscar bait
* pedobait
* pedobaiting
* pogey bait
* prebait
* queerbait
* race-bait
* ragebait
* rebait
* redbait
* red-bait
* rise to the bait
* scambait
* sharebait
* shark-bait
* shark bait
* spinnerbait
* spoonbait
* stinkbait
* swimbait
* take the bait
* unbait
* unbaited
* unicorn bait
* whitebait

##### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

#### Verb

bait (third-person singular simple present baits, present participle baiting, simple past and past participle baited)
* (transitive) To attract with bait; to entice.
* (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
* (transitive) To lay baits in an environment to control pest species.
* (transitive) To target a pest species by laying baits.

##### Usage notes

* 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.

##### Alternative forms

* (abbreviation) b8

##### Translations
#### References

* Scott Dobson, Dick Irwin “bait”, in Newcastle 1970s: Durham & Tyneside Dialect Group‎, archived from the original on 2024-09-05.
* 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
* Bill Griffiths, editor (2004), “bait”, in A Dictionary of North East Dialect, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear: Northumbria University Press, →ISBN.

### Etymology 2

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”).

#### Verb

bait (third-person singular simple present baits, present participle baiting, simple past and past participle baited)
* (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
* (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.
* (transitive, archaic) To feed and water (a horse or other animal), especially during a journey.
** 1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum ix”, in, 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.
* (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.
* (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, 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 […]

##### See also

* bait (dogs) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

### Etymology 3

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

#### Verb

bait (third-person singular simple present baits, present participle baiting, simple past and past participle baited)
* (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 4

Etymology unknown.

#### Adjective

bait (comparative baiter, superlative baitest)
* (MLE) Obvious; blatant.
** 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
* (MLE) Well-known; famous; renowned.
** 2017, “Bait Face”, in Godfather, performed by Richard "Wiley" Cowie and Ryan "Scratchy" Williams:My face is bait, I can't hide it

##### Synonyms

* (obvious): See also Thesaurus:obvious
* (well-known): See also Thesaurus:famous

#### References

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

### Anagrams

* tabi, IBAT, a bit, abit, bati

## Cimbrian
### Etymology

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.

### Adjective

bait (comparative baitor, superlative dar baitorste) (Sette Comuni, Luserna)
* wide, broad
    an baitar bèg ― a wide road
    Dar bèg is bait. ― The road is wide.
* distant, far
    Synonym: vèrre

#### Derived terms

* baitekhot

### References

* “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

## Indonesian
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈba.it/, [ˈba.ɪt̪̚]

### Etymology 1

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

#### Noun

bait (plural bait-bait)
* house (abode)
* home (house or structure in which someone lives)
* (literature) couplet (a pair of lines in poetry)
    Synonyms: untai, kuplet
* (literature) stanza (a unit of a poem, often in the form of a paragraph)
    Synonym: stanza

##### Derived terms

* berbait
* berbait-bait
* pembaitan
* sebait

### Etymology 2

Borrowed from Malay bait, from English byte.

#### Noun

bait (plural bait-bait)
* (nonstandard) Alternative spelling of bita

### Further reading

* “bait” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

## Malay
### Pronunciation

* (Johor-Selangor) IPA: /baet/
* (Riau-Lingga) IPA: /baɪt/
* Rhymes: -aet, -et

### Etymology 1

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

#### Noun

bait (Jawi spelling بيت, plural bait-bait, informal 1st possessive baitku, 2nd possessive baitmu, 3rd possessive baitnya)
* house (abode)
* home (house or structure in which someone lives)
* (literature) couplet (a pair of lines in poetry)

##### Descendants

* → Indonesian: bait

### Etymology 2

From English byte.

#### Noun

bait (Jawi spelling باٴيت, plural bait-bait, informal 1st possessive baitku, 2nd possessive baitmu, 3rd possessive baitnya)
* byte

### Further reading

* “bait” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.

## Marshallese
### Pronunciation

* (phonetic) IPA: [pˠɑːitˠ], (enunciated) [pˠɑ itˠ]
* (phonemic) IPA: /pˠæɰjitˠ/
* Bender phonemes: {bahyit}

### Noun

bait
* boxing

### Verb

bait
* hit
* punch

### References

* Marshallese–English Online Dictionary

## Middle English
### Noun

bait
* Alternative form of bayte

## Portuguese
### Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English bait.

### Pronunciation

* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈbej.t͡ʃi/ [ˈbeɪ̯.t͡ʃi], /ˈbejt͡ʃ/ [ˈbeɪ̯t͡ʃ]
* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈbej.t͡ʃi/ [ˈbeɪ̯.t͡ʃi], /ˈbejt͡ʃ/ [ˈbeɪ̯t͡ʃ]
** (Southern Brazil) IPA: /ˈbejt͡ʃ/ [ˈbeɪ̯t͡ʃ], /ˈbej.t͡ʃi/ [ˈbeɪ̯.t͡ʃi]

### Noun

bait m (plural baits)
* (Internet slang) bait (post intended to elicit a reaction from others)

### Further reading

* “bait”, in Dicionário inFormal (in Portuguese), 2006–2025

## Romanian
### Noun

bait m (plural baiți)
* Alternative form of byte

#### Declension
## Tagalog
### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* (Standard Tagalog) IPA: /baˈʔit/ [bɐˈʔit̪̚], (colloquial) /baˈʔet/ [bɐˈʔɛt̪̚]
* Rhymes: -it
* Syllabification: ba‧it

### Noun

baít (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜁᜆ᜔)
* kindness
    Synonyms: kabaitan, kabutihang-loob, kagandahang-loob
* senses; clear state of mind
    Synonyms: sentido, sentido-komun, huwisyo, isip
* prudence; cautiousness
    Synonyms: timpi, pigil
* docility; domesticity

#### Derived terms

* ambait
* bumait
* kabaitan
* mabait
* magbait
* magpakabait
* mapakabait
* masiraan ng bait
* mawalan ng bait
* sira ang bait
* walang bait

### Anagrams

* tabi, taib, bati

## Welsh
### Alternative forms

* baet

### Verb

bait
* (literary) second-person singular imperfect subjunctive of bod

#### Synonyms

* byddit
* byddet

### Mutation

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh. All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.