Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “prebait” come from?

prebait (English) comes from English bait, from Middle English bayte, from Old Norse beita, from Proto-Germanic baitō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyd-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰey- — bee.

prebait (English): Unpoisoned bait offered to animals to attract...

Definitions

  1. Unpoisoned bait offered to animals to attract...

Ancestry of “prebait”, 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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰey- →