Bit \Bit\, n. In the British West Indies, a fourpenny piece, or groat.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Bit \Bit\, 3d sing. pr. of Bid, for biddeth. [Obs.]

--Chaucer.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Bit \Bit\, n. [OE. bitt, bite, AS. bite, bite, fr. b[=i]tan to bite. See Bite, n. & v., and cf. Bit a morsel.]

1. The part of a bridle, usually of iron, which is inserted in the mouth of a horse, and having appendages to which the reins are fastened. --Shak.

The foamy bridle with the bit of gold. --Chaucer.

2. Fig.: Anything which curbs or restrains.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Bit \Bit\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bitting.]

To put a bridle upon; to put the bit in the mouth of.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Bit \Bit\, imp. & p. p. of Bite.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Bit \Bit\, n. [OE. bite, AS. bita, fr. b[=i]tan to bite; akin to D. beet, G. bissen bit, morsel, Icel. biti. See Bite, v., and cf. Bit part of a bridle.]

1. A part of anything, such as may be bitten off or taken into the mouth; a morsel; a bite. Hence: A small piece of anything; a little; a mite.

2. Somewhat; something, but not very great.

My young companion was a bit of a poet. --T. Hook.

Note: This word is used, also, like jot and whit, to express the smallest degree; as, he is not a bit wiser.

3. A tool for boring, of various forms and sizes, usually turned by means of a brace or bitstock. See Bitstock.

4. The part of a key which enters the lock and acts upon the bolt and tumblers. --Knight.

5. The cutting iron of a plane. --Knight.

6. In the Southern and Southwestern States, a small silver coin (as the real) formerly current; commonly, one worth about 12 1/2 cents; also, the sum of 12 1/2 cents.

Bit my bit, piecemeal. --Pope.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Bite \Bite\, v. t. [imp. Bit; p. p. Bitten, Bit; p. pr. & vb. n. Biting.]

[OE. biten, AS. b[=i]tan; akin to D. bijten, OS. b[=i]tan, OHG. b[=i]zan, G. beissen, Goth. beitan, Icel. b[=i]ta, Sw. bita, Dan. bide, L. findere to cleave, Skr. bhid to cleave. [root]87. Cf. Fissure.]

1. To seize with the teeth, so that they enter or nip the thing seized; to lacerate, crush, or wound with the teeth; as, to bite an apple; to bite a crust; the dog bit a man.

Such smiling rogues as these, Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain. --Shak.

2. To puncture, abrade, or sting with an organ (of some insects) used in taking food.

3. To cause sharp pain, or smarting, to; to hurt or injure, in a literal or a figurative sense; as, pepper bites the mouth. ``Frosts do bite the meads.'' --Shak.

4. To cheat; to trick; to take in. [Colloq.]

--Pope.

5. To take hold of; to hold fast; to adhere to; as, the anchor bites the ground.

The last screw of the rack having been turned so often that its purchase crumbled, . . . it turned and turned with nothing to bite. --Dickens.

To bite the dust, To bite the ground, to fall in the agonies of death; as, he made his enemy bite the dust.

To bite in (Etching), to corrode or eat into metallic plates by means of an acid.

To bite the thumb at (any one), formerly a mark of contempt, designed to provoke a quarrel; to defy. ``Do you bite your thumb at us?'' --Shak.

To bite the tongue, to keep silence. --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)