Bait (?), n. [Icel. beita food, beit pasture, akin to AS. bat 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 Zool, a crustacean of the genus Hippa found burrowing in sandy beaches. See Anomura.
© Webster 1913.
Bait, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Baited; p. pr. & vb. n. Baiting.] [OE. baiten, beitn, to feed, harass, fr. Icel. beita, orig. to cause to bite, fr. bita. &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.
© Webster 1913.
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 a Newmarket.
Evelyn.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913. | 
