(bāt) noun
1. Food or other enticement placed as a lure in a trap, on a hook, etc.
2. Any allurement or enticement.
3. A halt on a journey for food or refreshment.
—v.t.
1. To put food or some other lure on or in: to bait a trap.
2. To torment, as by setting dogs upon, for sport: to bait a bear.
3. To harass; heckle.
4. To lure; entice.
5. Obs. To feed (a horse, etc.) while resting.
—v.i.
6. Obs. To stop for rest and refreshment. ◆ Homophone: bate. [<ON beita cause to bite]
—bait′er

(bāt) noun Dial.
1. A quantity; an amount.
2. Enough. ◆ Homophone: bate.

(bāt)
See BATE³.