Dictionary

bitey en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• [ˈbaɪ̯ɾi] (General-American)
• /ˈbaɪti/

Etymology

From bite + -y (suffix forming adjectives). Compare West Frisian bitsich (“snappy”), Saterland Frisian bieterg (“snappish”), German Low German bittsig (“snappy”), German bissig (“snappy, snappish”).

Meanings

1. (informal) Inclined to bite.
   • It has all the beauty of an idyllic tropical island without any of the nasty, bitey stuff. 2006, Sean Dooley, The Big Twitch: One Man, One Continent, a Race Against Time:
   • So when someone tells you their little trick for dealing with a bitey horse, just remember that that is what it is — a little trick. 2005, Tom Widdicombe, Be with Your Horse: Getting to the Heart of Horsemanship:
2. Having a sharp or spicy flavor.

Forms

Deriveds

biteyness · bitey thing

bitey en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• [ˈbaɪ̯ɾi] (General-American)
• /ˈbaɪti/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- Proto-Indo-European *-t Proto-Indo-European *bʰéydt Proto-Germanic *bītaną Proto-West Germanic *bītan Old English bītan Middle English biten English bite English -y English bitey From bite + -y (suffix forming nouns).

Meanings

1. (Australia) An animal that bites or stings.

Forms