bait

Where does the word "bait" come from? It comes from Old Norse beita, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Bait’s story begins in Old Norse: beita meant “to cause to bite.” The causative of Old Norse 'bíta', to bite; the same root gives 'bite' and 'bitter'. It reached English by 1300s as bait. Settled as the English word for food used to lure prey. Today, bait means food used to lure fish or animals, or something used to tempt someone.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval beita "to cause to bite", the causative of Old Norse 'bíta', to bite; the same root gives 'bite' and 'bitter'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s bait "food used to lure fish, animals, or people", settled as the English word for food used to lure prey.