Bit

Source : Wright, Joseph English Dialect Dictionary
web : https://eddonline4-proj.uibk.ac.at/edd/main.html

BIT, sb.1 and v.1 In var. dial. uses in Sc. Irel. and Eng. Also
Colon. [bit.]
1. sb. A morsel of food; in phr. (1) bit and baid, (2) bits
and brat(s, food and clothing; (3) bit and buffet, food and
blows; (4) every bit and crumb, fig. every morsel, entirely,
altogether; (5) bit and drop, (6) bit and sup, a little to eat
and drink.
(1) Abd. Your honour winna miss our bit and baid, Ross
Helenore (1768) 124, ed. 1812. (2) e.Lth. We hae slaved plenty for
bit an' brat, Hunter J. Inwick (1895) 228. Nhb. Their bits and
brats are varry scant, Wilson Pitman's Pay (1843) 10; Nhb.1
(3) Sc. A fellow... who would take, according to Scottish phrase,
‘the bit and the buffet,’ Scott Bride of Lam. (1819) xxi; Fate...
gies them their bit and buffet wi't, A. Scott Poems (1811) 30 (Jam.).
Ayr. Dinna mak' your charity on the present a bit and a buffet
wi't, Galt Lairds (1826) xxx. n.Yks.2 Ne'er give a bit And a
buffet wi't. (4) Hmp. He is a good dog, every bit and crumb of
him, N. & Q. (1854) 1st S. x. 400; Hmp.1 Dor. Every bit an'
crimp, Barnes Gl. (1863); Dor.1 w.Som.1 Wee pikt aup ùv·uree
beet-n krèo·m [we gathered up every morsel]. A very common
expression, applied to any substance, as hay, manure, seed, soil.
Also used in the abstract ─ I'd just zo zoon, every bit and crumb.
’ ‘'Tis every bit and croom za bad as shutting a unvledged paadridge,’
Pulman Sketches, 12. nw.Dev.1 (5) Ayr. She had to work sore
for their bit and drap, Galt Annals (1821) i. Dor. We could knock
in a bit and a drop, Hardy Madding Crowd (1874) vii; Barnes
Gl. (1863); Dor.1 (6) Kcd. Grudged a passin' bit an' sup, Grant
Lays (1884) 46. Dmf. Her attention to yer wames, Wi' bit an' sup,
Quinn Lintie (1863) 37. Ir. Nor bit nor sup she'd had but a crust,
Barlow Bog-land (1893) 60. e.Yks.1 MS. add. (T.H.) Not.1,
sw.Lin.1, Lei.1, War.3 Glo. I'se had a bit and a sup mysel’,
Buckman Darke's Sojourn (1890) x. s.Oxf. Never tasted bit nor
sup ‘cep’ a drop o' beer, Rosemary Chilterns (1895) 119. Oxf.1 MS.
add.
2. In pl. Scraps of beef, liver, &c.
Cor.2 Sold by the lump as ‘bits’ for a ‘false roast,’ or a fry.
3. In pl. A herb resembling spinach, used for making
pies. Cor.2
4. A piece of money; coin; a threepenny piece.
Frf. They were known in Thrums as the Eleven and a Bits, that
being their price at Kyowowy's, Barrie Thrums (1889) 67. Lon.
Come out and see if we can't get a bit, Dy. News (Jan. 4, 1895) 3,
col. 7. w.Som.1 U zik·spúnee beet [a sixpence]. Slang. To share
the spoil and grab the bit, Tom Crib's Memorial (1819) 37. [Can.
Only by great persuasion could we get one to take a bit (ten cents),
Roper Track (1891) xiv.]
5. Followed by of: used affectionately or in depreciation
of anything small or of little value; a small quantity. In
gen. colloq. use.
N.I.1 Bits of things, household furniture. Cum. A bit of a thing
sittan' drivan' a mawin' machine and twee horses 'at never could
ha swung a scythe (M.P.); Oor bits o' bairns'll scraffle up,
Anderson Ballads (ed. 1808) 18. Wm.1 A bit av a runt [animal].
n.Yks.2 Yan's bits o' better cleeas. e.Yks.1 w.Yks. Tha knows
we arn't bits o' childer, Hartley Tales, 2nd S. 19; I've hiərd 'at
he's worth a bit o' summət (J.R.); They sell'd off ther bits o' traps,
Preston Yksman. (1880) 85. Lan. A bit of a lad! he'd lick thee
ony end up, Westall Birch Dene (1889) II. 33. Not.1 Lin.1 We'd
six little mouths ta fill,... 'twer a bit on a pill [pull]. Lei.1
Hence Bitty, adj. Of water: containing small particles
of decayed wood from the pump. Chs.1
6. A short time or distance. In gen. use.
Abd. I saw her... A wee bit there ayont the height, Shirrefs
Poems (1790) 287. Dmb. Best for me to get a bit oot o' his reach,
Cross Disruption (1844) v. Uls. To put, or convoy you a bit, to
accompany (M.B.-S.). Ker. There will be no more troubles for a
bit, Flk-Lore Jrn. (1885) III. 258. Nhb. Thoo's been gean a gey
bit, Clare Love of Lass (1890) I. 6; Nhb.1, Dur.1, Wm.1 e.Yks.1
Hoo far is it tĭ Pathrinton? ─ Oh! a good bit. A bit sin. w.Yks. Al'
gie thi' thi' beans in a bit, Prov. in Brighouse News (July 20, 1889);
Yo'd a social tay i' t'new schooil a bit sin, Bywater Shevvild Ann.
(1848) 22; w.Yks.1 Lan. He's deeud a bit sin, Almond Watercresses,
17; Lan.1 I'm coming in a bit. e.Lan.1 I will attend to the
matter in a bit. m.Lan.1 Oxf.1 A bit ago, MS. add. Brks.1 w.Som.1
I on'y yeard o' it a bit agone. Dev. They awnly layved tha ouze a
bit-ago, Hewett Peas. Sp. (1892) w.Cor. He went a bra' [brave]
bit ago (M.A.C.).
7. Place, position, station.
Sc. May I never stir frae the bit, Scott St. Ronan (1824) xvi;
But you are in the bit at last, Stevenson Catriona (1892) iv; Come
back to yer auld bit, Swan Gates of Eden (ed. 1895) ii; He canna
stan' in a bit (Jam.). Per. It 'ill keep ye in the bit for an 'oor,
Ian Maclaren Auld Lang Syne (1895) 254. Dmb. Ye've grown
rich while I havena been gaun out o' the bit, Cross Disruption
(1844) xviii. Gall. I thocht there was nae ill bits in London but
in the East-end, Crockett Bog-Myrtle (1895) 172. Kcb. The deil...
took him awa to the ill bit, Armstrong Ingleside (1890) 215.
Cum. Forth frae the bit they scry'd it furst, Stagg Misc. Poems
(1807) 41; (J.P.); Cum.1 He's gittan poorish and pinch't to hod
his bit.
8. In phr. (1) Bits and bats, see Bat, sb.1, (2) bits and bobs,
odds and ends; (3) bit of blood, a horse, a thoroughbred;
(4) bit on the top, to the full, with violence; (5) to put the bit
of wood in the hole, to shut the door; (6) on bit tack, work
done by the piece or by contract.
(1) w.Yks. Ah've sammed up a toathry oddments ─ bits an' bats
mi mother ud call em, Yks. Wkly Post (June 7, 1896). (2) War.2
Gather up your bits-and-bobs, and let me lay the tea. (3) Ir.
I had my bit of blood in the stable, Barrington Sketches (1830)
I. vii. (4) w.Yks. Gen. used in threats. Ah'll gi' thee't wi' t'bit o'
t'top, Leeds Merc. Suppl. (Oct. 10, 1891). (5) Yks. (T.K.) (6)
w.Yks. T'clock wor on bit tack, an t'watch never struck, Toddles'
Alm. (1875)
9. v. To mark a sheep by cutting a bit out of the ear.
Hence Bitted, ppl. adj. ear-marked.
Cum. Every shepherd's flock hes some variety in ear-marking;
... if we take a piece out of it, we say it is bitted, Cornh. Mag.
(Oct. 1890) 387; The common term (J.A.).

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BIT, sb.2 and v.2 Sc. Irel. Wm. Yks. Der. Lin. Shr.
e.An. Ken. Som. [bit.]
1. sb. The blade or working part of a metal tool or
instrument; see also below.
N.I.1 The bit of a key is the part that is cut to pass the wards of
the lock. Wm.1 The Blade of a joiner's plane. Der. A piece of
steel placed on the end of a borer, Mawe Mineral. (1802) Gl.
n.Lin.1 For one new bit for a key, 4d., Louth Ch. Acc. (1644) l67.
Shr.1 Blade of an agricultural shovel; Shr.2 Ken. In a cart-horse
harness and plough harness the whole of the headgear is collectively
known as the bit. It would not be so used in respect of riding
or driving horses (P.M.). Som. The lower end of a poker, W. & J.
Gl. (1873) w.Som.1 The tool used by tinmen and others for
soldering.
2. The conclusion, crisis; ‘point.’
Dmb. How did you find the money? ─ That's the bit, man, that's
just the bit, Cross Disruption (1844) xxviii. e.Lth. I aye said ye
wad turn up heids whan it cam to the bit, Hunter J. Inwick (1895)
223. Ayr. The best wark-lume i' the house... Is instant made no
worth a louse, Just at the bit, Burns Address to Deil (1785) Lnk.
Sin' you hae brocht me to the bit... I will say ─ yes, Wardrop
Johnny Mathieson (1881) 13. N.I.1 Uls. If it comes to the bit I
must do it (M.B.-S.). Ant. If it comes tae the bit a can list, Ballymena
Obs. (1892) w.Yks. Willan List Wds. (1811) e.An.1 Ay,
ay, that will be the bit.
3. v. To put a new end to a poker.
Som. W. & J. Gl. (1873)
[1. Penneton d'un clef, the bit or neb of a key, COTGR.
With the bit of his blade... He clefe hym to þe coler,
Dest. Troy (c. 1400).]

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BIT, adj. Sc. Irel. Nhb. Dur. Cum. Wm. Yks. [bit.]
1. Small; freq. used as a term of endearment or of
contempt.
Sc. The bit prelatical sprig of divinity from the town yonder,
Scott St. Ronan (1824) ii; I hope you are now settled in your ain
bit housie, Ramsay Remin. (1859) 98; In a bit scrag of wood,
Stevenson Catriona (1892) xi; ‘Bit’ is often intensified by the
addition of ‘wee’ (A.W.). Bnff. This bit beastie, Smiles Natur.
(1879) II. 45. Abd. Yon bit lassie... can scarce help me wi' a job,
Beatties Parings (1813) 40, ed. 1873. Per. A bit lassie would bring
her book, Ian Maclaren Brier Bush (1895) 4. Ayr. Gie me a bit
drappie, Galt Legatees (1820) vi; Some bit callan brings me news,
Burns To Mr. J. Kennedy. Edb. Another argument for my bringing
out my bit book at the present time, Moir Mansie Wauch
(1828) 3. n.Ir. Snug in his ain bit pack, Alexander Stumpie's
Brae. Myo. The bit lake is there still, Stoker Snake's Pass (1891)
ii. N.Cy.1 A bit bairn. Nhb. Thou's keep a bit shop, Midford
Poems (1818) 15; Nhb.1 Aa did what bit thing aa could for him.
Dur.1 Cum. What a wee bit thing it is (E.W.P.); Cum.1 Wm.
Sally an me help a bit whiles, Spec. Dial. (1877) pt. i. 36; (E.W.P.)
n.Yks. Gunpowder Plot t'bit bairns keep up, Tweddell Clevel.
Rhymes (1875) 5. m.Yks.1 T'bit bairns.
2. Short.
Nhb. Yen neet he gat a bit waak, Haldane Geordy's Last (1878)
9; Nhb.1 A bit twine.

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BIT, sb.1 Sc. 1. An identifying cut made in a sheep's
ear. Sc. (A.W.) Sh.I. Spence Flk-Lore (1899) 176.
2. In phr. to take the bits out of one's mouth, see below.
Gall. Will ye no tak the bitts out o' my mouth the day, is
a common phrase by those who long to have a drink from their
neighbours when they meet on market days, Mactaggart Encycl.
(1824).

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‡BIT, sb. Nhp.1 In phr. as dark as bit, very dark.
If, as is probable,‘ bit’ is a contraction of ‘bitumen,’ it is readily
explained by its agreement with the more common simile ‘as dark
as pitch.’

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BIT, v.1 Cum. 1. To regain one's position or footing.
Cum.4 Jemmy, however, mannish't to bit on his feet like a cat.
2. To fall.
I on her feace directly meade it bit, Relph Misc. Poems (1747)
96; Cum.4

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BIT, v.2 w.Yks. To stand at the mark when playing
quoits, skittles, &c.
Onlookers will cry—‘ Nah, bit fair!’ Yks. Wkly. Post (May 1,
1897).
Hence Bitting, sb. the line from which marble-players
pitch at the ring.
Howd on! Keep thee tooas on t'bitting (B.K.

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