Bit /(bĭt)/

1. The part of a bridle, usually of iron, which is inserted in the mouth of a horse, and having appendages to which the reins are fastened.

   The foamy bridle with the bit of gold.

2. Fig.: Anything which curbs or restrains.

1. In the British West Indies, a fourpenny piece, or groat.

imp. & p. p. Bitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bitting

1. To put a bridle upon; to put the bit in the mouth of.

1. imp. & p. p. of Bite.

1. A part of anything, such as may be bitten off or taken into the mouth; a morsel; a bite. Hence: A small piece of anything; a little; a mite.
2. Somewhat; something, but not very great.

   My young companion was a bit of a poet.

3. A tool for boring, of various forms and sizes, usually turned by means of a brace or bitstock. See Bitstock.
4. The part of a key which enters the lock and acts upon the bolt and tumblers.
5. The cutting iron of a plane.
6. In the Southern and Southwestern States, a small silver coin (as the real) formerly current; commonly, one worth about 12 1/2 cents; also, the sum of 12 1/2 cents.

1. The smallest unit of information, equivalent to a choice between two alternatives, as yes or no; on or off. See also qubit. (Information theory, Computers)
2. The physical representation of a bit of information in a computer memory or a data storage medium. Within a computer circuit a bit may be represented by the state of a current or an electrical charge; in a magnetic storage medium it may be represented by the direction of magnetization; on a punched card or on paper tape it may be represented by the presence or absence of a hole at a particular point on the card or tape. (Computers)

1. 3d sing. pr. of Bid, for biddeth. [Obs.]