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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bait, n. Also: baite, bayte, bate, beat(t. [ME. bait (c 1300), baite, beyte, ON. beita, food, bait.]

1. Bait for fishing with. Also attrib. with coubbie (basket), water, and fig.a1500 Henr. Fab. 734 (I haif nather boittis, net, nor bait). 1571 Reg. Great S. 447/1 (cum piscationibus et lie bait, hwik et lyne). 1594 Orkney & Sh. Rec. 217 (sa mony as may serve to be thair bait). 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 172 (muschellis [to] serue thame for beatt). 1633 Misc. Abbotsf. C. I. 151 (the watter quherin the bait was to be keipit); Ib. (into his bait coubbie); Ib. (into his bait water).fig. a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 11 (with wickit bait I daylie am allurit). 1572 Sat. P. xxxviii. 34 (thow begylit vs with baits in our hals).

2. A feed for horses; a stoppage for feeding. 1473 Reg. Cupar A. II. 166.
The abbay sal prouyde … to thar hors a bavt in tyme of ledyn of petis a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 210.
This goldin cart … Four ȝokkit steidis But bait or tyring through the spheiris drew Id. Fab. 2050 (at the nixt bait ȝe salbe flane). 1516 Rentale Dunkeld. 298 (in emptione lie draf verediis medio diei in lie bait). 1663–6 Household Bks. Abp. Sharp 19 b (for a beat to the horses).