Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “bayte” come from?

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

bayte (Middle English): Bait or lure; objects used as a bait or lure;...

Definitions

  1. Bait or lure; objects used as a bait or lure;...

Ancestry of “bayte”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsebeitato graze; to allow, let, make bite; to steer or...
2Proto-GermanicbaitōThat which is or can be bitten; food; bait
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeyd-to split
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰey-bee

Words derived from “bayte”

  • bait
  • baiting
  • baitfish
  • whitebait
  • spinnerbait
  • baiter
  • bearbaiting
  • bullbaiting
  • jailbait
  • baitcasting
  • crankbait
  • rebait
  • crowbait
  • fishbait
  • baitless
  • prebaiting
  • redbait
  • prebait
  • baitwell
  • baithook
  • baitshop
  • stinkbait
  • queerbait
  • baiteth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰey- →