n. [ OE. bitt, bite, AS. bite, bite, fr. bītan to bite. See Bite, n. & v., and cf. Bit a morsel. ]
The foamy bridle with the bit of gold. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. In the British West Indies, a fourpenny piece, or groat. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
v. t.
imp. & p. p. of Bite. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ OE. bite, AS. bita, fr. bītan to bite; akin to D. beet, G. bissen bit, morsel, Icel. biti. See Bite, v., and cf. Bit part of a bridle. ]
My young companion was a bit of a poet. T. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ This word is used, also, like jot and whit, to express the smallest degree; as, he is not a bit wiser. [ 1913 Webster ]
(Information theory, Computers) [ binary digit. ] n.
Bit my bit,
3d sing. pr. of Bid, for biddeth. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. [ See Betake, Betaught. ] To commend; to commit. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Pref. bi- + tangent. ] (Geom.) Possessing the property of touching at two points. --
n. (Chem.) A salt of tartaric acid in which the base replaces but half the acid hydrogen; an acid tartrate, as cream of tartar. [ 1913 Webster ]