bit

bit

bit¹ [bit]

n.

[ME < OE bite, a bite < bītan, BITE]

1. the part of a bridle that goes into a horse's mouth, used to control the horse: see BRIDLE

2. anything that curbs or controls

3. the part of a pipestem held in the mouth: see PIPE

4. the part of a key that actually turns the lock

5. the cutting part of any tool, as the blade of a plane

6. a drilling or boring tool for use in a brace, drill press, etc.: see DRILL¹

vt.

bitted, bitting

1.

a) to put a bit into the mouth of (a horse)

b) to train to the bit

2. to check or curb

3. to make the bit on (a key)

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take the bit in one's teeth or get the bit in one's teeth

1. to clench the bit between the teeth, so that it fails to restrain: said of horses

2. to be beyond control

bit² [bit]

n.

[ME bite < OE bita, a piece, morsel, bit < bitan, to BITE]

1.

a) a small piece or quantity

b) a small extent or limited degree: often used with a and having adverbial force [a bit bored]

c) a short time; moment [wait a bit ]

☆ 2. [orig. used of a small silver coin worth ¹/ ₈ of the Spanish peso (hence, normally 12 ¹/ ₂ cents)] Informal an amount equal to 12¹/ ₂ cents: now usually in two bits, four bits, etc.

3.

☆ a) a small part or short performance in a play or entertainment

b) Informal any stereotyped or repeated action, expression, etc. [resorting to the aggrieved bit]

adj.

very small [a bit role]

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bit by bit

little by little; gradually

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do one's bit

to do one's share

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every bit

altogether; entirely

bit³ [bit]

vt., vi.

pt. & alt. pp. of BITE

bit⁴ [bit]

n.

[b(inary) (dig)it]

1. a single digit in a binary number system

2. a unit of information equal to the amount of information obtained by learning which of two equally likely events occurred