Word: bit Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English bitte, bite, from Old English bita (“bit; fragment; morsel”) and bite (“a bite; cut”), from Proto-Germanic *bitô and *bitiz; both from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to split”). More at bite. Cognates Cognate with West Frisian bit, Saterland Frisian Bit, Dutch bit, German Low German Beet, Biet, German Biss and Bissen, Danish bid, Swedish bit, Icelandic biti. Pronunciation: /ˈbɪt/, /ˈbɪ̝t/, /ˈbɘt/ 1. A piece of metal placed in a horse's mouth and connected to the reins to direct the animal. Example: A horse hates having a bit put in its mouth. 2. A rotary cutting tool, fitted to a drill, brace, or router, used to bore or drill holes or to remove material from the profile of the workpiece. Example: router bit Example: chamfering bit 3. Applied to a various small units of currency and coins. Labels: UK, dated Example: a threepenny bit 4. Applied to a various small units of currency and coins. Labels: Canada, US, historical Example: A quarter is two bits. Example: He left after shaking her down for four bits for carrying the bags. 5. Applied to a various small units of currency and coins. Labels: Canada, US, obsolete Example: The smallest coin we had in Canada in early days was a dime, worth ten cents. The Indians called this coin “a Bit”. Our next coin, double in buying power and in size, was a twenty-five cent piece and this the Indians called “Two Bits”. 6. Applied to a various small units of currency and coins. Labels: historical Example: I trusted to the Lord to be with me; and at one of our trips to St. Eustatia, a Dutch island, I bought a glass tumbler with my half bit, and when I came to Montserrat I sold it for a bit, or sixpence. 7. Applied to a various small units of currency and coins. Labels: historical 8. Applied to a various small units of currency and coins. 9. A small amount of something. Example: There were bits of paper all over the floor. Example: Does your leg still hurt? —Just a bit now. 10. Specifically, a small amount of time. Labels: informal Example: I'll be there in a bit; I need to take care of something first. Example: He was here just a bit ago, but it looks like he's stepped out. 11. A small fraction above a whole number. Labels: informal Example: The movie lasted for two and a bit hours. 12. Fractions of a second. Labels: in-plural, informal Example: The 400 metres race was won in 47 seconds and bits. 13. A portion of something. Example: I'd like a big bit of cake, please. Example: Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus.[…]A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that. Developed as a tool to electronically combine the sharpest bits of multiple digital images, focus stacking is a boon to biologists seeking full focus on a micron scale. 14. Somewhat; something, but not very great; also used like jot and whit to express the smallest degree. See also a bit. Example: Am I bored? Not a bit of it! Example: My young companion was a bit of a poet. 15. A replaceable tip for a hand tool or power tool, comprising the portion that drives a fastener. Example: Near-synonym: driver Example: driver bit 16. A prison sentence, especially a short one. Labels: slang Example: Had it not been for the influence of Mrs. Booth and Hope Hall I should still be grafting or doing a bit in some stir Example: Before doing that I am going to tell you what was the result of my own incarceration, because I presume it may not be a secret to you, that I have done a "bit" myself, not the "bit" which the prosecuting attorney was so anxious to have me do. 17. An excerpt of material making up part of a show, comedy routine, etc. Example: His bit about video games was not nearly as entertaining as the other segments of his show. 18. A gag or put-on; a humorous conceit, especially when insistently presented as true. Labels: slang Example: Are you serious, or is this a bit? Example: Also, I'm bi. I like dudes! ...That's weird to say. Everything I say feels like a bit now, god dammit. 19. Ellipsis of bit part. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis Example: She acted her bit in the opening scene. 20. The part of a key which enters the lock and acts upon the bolt and tumblers. 21. The cutting iron of a plane. 22. The bevelled front edge of an axehead along which the cutting edge runs. 23. A gag of a style similar to a bridle. 24. A gun. Labels: Multicultural-London-English Example: Jimmy: I need to get my hands on some bits. If you’re still in the business. Ronnie (played by Nick Nevern): Oi! Trojan (played by Jean-Paul Van Cauwelaert): Ronnie. […] Trojan: Now that is a SIG Sauer P226.