[beyt-fish] 
) -fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) -fish⋅es. | 1. | a small fish that is a source of food for a larger fish: Fishermen knew the presence of baitfish meant plenty of bass nearby. |
| 2. | Angling. any small fish, as a minnow or shiner, used as bait. |
| bait·fish (bāt'fĭsh') n. Chiefly Chesapeake Bay & North Atlantic Coast A small fish, such as a minnow, used for fishing bait. |