bit

{{11}}bit (n.¹) "small piece," c.1200, from related O.E. words bite "act of biting," and bita "piece bitten off," are probably the source of the modern words meaning "boring-piece of a drill" (1590s), "mouthpiece of a horse's bridle" (mid-14c.), and "a piece bitten off, morsel" (c.1000). All from P.Gmc. *biton (Cf. O.S. biti, O.N. bit, O.Fris. bite, M.Du. bete, O.H.G. bizzo "biting," Ger. Bissen "a bite, morsel"), from PIE root *bheid- "to split" (see FISSURE (Cf. fissure)). Meaning "small piece, fragment" is from c.1600. Sense of "short space of time" is 1650s. Theatrical bit part is from 1909. Money sense in two bits, six bits, etc. is originally from Southern U.S. and West Indies, in reference to silver wedges cut or stamped from Spanish dollars (later Mexican reals); transferred to "eighth of a dollar."

{{12}}bit (n.²) computerese word, 1948 abbreviation coined by U.S. computer pioneer John W. Tukey (1915-2000) of binary digit, probably chosen for its identity with BIT (Cf. bit) (n.¹).

{{12}}bit (v.) past tense of BITE (Cf. bite).