redbait

[red-beyt]

verb (used without object)

1. to denounce or deprecate as a political radical, especially to accuse of being communist.

Other Word Forms

• redbaiter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of redbait¹

1935–40; back formation from redbaiter, redbaiting. See red ¹, bait

Example Sentences

Reversing Mr Hullah’s legend, “per scalam ascendimus,” we have dined off an Abernethy biscuit and a “penn’orth” of shrimps in a recess of Waterloo Bridge—a redbait dinner in a granite hall, with a view of the river both ways, equalling or excelling that from Lovegrove’s; and, therefore, we were not above asking the opinion of friends right and left as to the quality of the joints on cut.

From Project Gutenberg