baitless en · ADJ
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- Proto-Indo-European *-t Proto-Indo-European *bʰéydt Proto-Germanic *bītaną Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *baitijaną Old Norse beitabor. Middle English bayte English bait Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English baitless From bait + -less.
Meanings
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(not-comparable) Without bait.
With baitless hooks, the catchers rely upon their speed and agility to flick the skipjack aboard as they snap at the glittering hooks.
1964, Georg Borgström, Japan's world success in fishing: