Bight definition

Tom Dunlap

Tom Dunlap

Here from the beginning
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Retired in Minneapolis
One of the daily subscriptions that I have is for "Word a Day"

http://wordsmith.org/words/bight.html

This came up...

bight (byt) noun

1. A bend in a coastline; also the body of water along such a curve.
Example: The Bight of Benin in W. Africa.

2. The curved part or the middle of a rope (as contrasted with the ends).

[From Old English byht (bend). Ultimately from Indo-European root bheug-
(to bend) that is also the source of bow, bagel, bee, bog, akimbo, and
buxom (originally one who is obedient or pliant).]
 
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Dict.org is my favorite online website.

[/ QUOTE ]
The vague credit "Webster's" in this site's first-listed definitions
made me wonder--esp. as 1913 wasn't what I recalled as one of
the Merriam-Webster edition dates. In fact, they are pretty close
in quotation, and 1913 is a date of some minor changes to the
1909 New International (1934 New Int. 2nd Ed.; 1966 3rd New
Int.; and the calendar's been ticking long, since then!). According
to actual text, in geog. "bight" was also used for bends in rivers
& ridges; to the Naut. def., brought forward from the 1890 "Int"
(presumably) & 1888 "Unabridged" (not yet "Int." :-), 1909/-13
added "...; a loop"; and there's also now a verb, "to bight" (v.t.).
It's surprising to read Ashley's definition of "bight" at #30 (or
thereabouts)--which contrasts with his use of it & Glossary.

*knudeNoggin*
 
I'm unfamiliar with the nuances of Webster's publishing history. The documentation for the databases used there says:
<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>
This dictionary was derived from the
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
Version published 1913
by the C. &amp; G. Merriam Co.
Springfield, Mass.
Under the direction of
Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D.</pre><hr />
 
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