Where does “craybait” come from?

craybait (English) comes from English Cray, from Dutch kraai, from French craie, from Latin Crēta, from Latin -āceus, from Latin -āx, from Latin -ium, from Latin -ius — Creates adjectives from noun or verb stems.

craybait (English): Bait used to catch crayfish

Definitions

  1. Bait used to catch crayfish

Ancestry of “craybait”, step by step

craybait traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Cray

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishCraywhich flows into the River Darent
2DutchkraaiA crow, "Corvus corone"; One of certain related...
3Frenchcraiechalk
4LatinCrētachalk
5Latin-āceusaceous; resembling, having the nature of, forming, belonging to
6Latin-āxish, -y
7Latin-iumSuffix used to form abstract nouns, sometimes...
8Latin-iusforming adjectives from nouns; nominative neuter...
9Proto-Italic-jōsForms comparative adjectives
10Proto-Indo-European-yósCreates adjectives from noun or verb stems

via English bait

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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yós
craybait — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer