Meaning
Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- Proto-Indo-European *-t Proto-Indo-European *bʰéydt Proto-Germanic *bītaną Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *baitijaną Old Norse beitabor. Middle English bayte English bait 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”), Old English bāt (“that which can be bitten, food, bait”). Related to bite.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 30 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-07-04BAEHILT
- 2026-04-08TANHBIO
- 2026-03-24IABRTUY
- 2026-01-06TARBIOV
- 2025-12-08AZBTIEP
- 2025-11-12IATNBRV
- 2025-10-12BACEILT
- 2025-09-23TAKICEB
- 2025-09-13BACNOTI
- 2025-08-24BATLIRY
- 2025-08-14IARDBHT
- 2025-08-09IAXLBTY
+18 earlier appearances in the archive.