Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “baiting” come from?

Baiting derives from English bait, from Middle English beite, from Old Norse beita, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyd-.

baiting (English): present participle of bait; A bloodsport...

Definitions

  1. present participle of bait; A bloodsport...

Ancestry of “baiting”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbaitAny substance, especially food, used in catching...
2Middle EnglishbayteBait or lure; objects used as a bait or lure;...
3Old Norsebeitato graze; to allow, let, make bite; to steer or...
4Proto-GermanicbaitōThat which is or can be bitten; food; bait
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeyd-to split
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰey-bee

Words derived from “baiting”

  • bearbaiting
  • bullbaiting
  • prebaiting
  • rat-baiting
  • scambaiting
  • queerbaiting
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰey- →