Etymology

From ON, cp. OIcel beita 'to graze, feed; cause to bite; set on; chase; etc.' < PGmc *baitjan- (cp. OE bǣtan, OS bētian, OHG beizen), a causative formation on the common st. v. *bītan-. See also bate (n.) (2).

PGmc Ancestor

*baitjan-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

beita 'to graze, feed; cause to bite; set on; chase, etc.'
(ONP beita (2) (vb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far beita, Icel beita, Norw beita, Dan bede, Sw beta

OE Cognate

bǣtan 'to bait, hunt, worry'

Phonological and morphological markers

ON /ei/ &lt; PGmc */ai/

Summary category

A1*

Attestation

First attested in Orrm, and widespread thereafter in a variety of senses.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Cl 55; WA 5355

The Cl instance is usually glossed 'to feed, fatten (for slaughter)', but Anderson (55n with further references, Vant 55n) prefers 'baited (by dogs) in order to improve the flavour of the meat by forcing the animals to exert themselves'.

Bibliography

MED baiten (v.) , OED bait (v.1) , HTOED , EDD bait (v.1), Bj. 41, de Vries beita (2), Mag beita (2), Orel *ƀaitjanan, DOE bǣtan, AEW bǣtan