Bíta

As defined by A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic (Geir Zoëga):

bíta Old Icelandic word can mean:

bíta

(bít; beit, bitum; bitinn), v.

bíta

1) to bite with the teeth (hundr bítr mann; E. beit skarð ór horninu);

bíta

~ gras, to graze, also absol. (naut bitu á velli);

bíta

~ af e-m eyrun, to bite his ears;

bíta

~ e-t í sundr, to bite asunder or through;

bíta

~ á vörrinni, kampinum, to bite the lip, the beard;

bíta

impers., of fish, to bite, take the bait (bítr vel á um daginn);

bíta

2) of sharp instruments, weapons; þeir er eigi bitu járn, those whom iron could not bite;

bíta

sverðit beit eigi, did not cut;

bíta

e-m bítr, one’s weapon (scythe) cuts well (allt bitu honum annan veg vápnin);

bíta

fig., beit þetta ráð, was effective;

bíta

3) of a ship, to go near the wind;

bíta

skip, er vér köllum ~ allra skipa bezt, the best sailer;

bíta

impers., beit þeim eigi fyrir Reykjanes, they could not clear or weather Reykjaness;

bíta

4) fig., to bite, sting, hurt (þik skulu allir eiðar ~, þeir er Helga hafðir unna);

bíta

sekt, sök bítr e-n, one is convicted or found guilty;

bíta

þau mál, sem sekt bítr, matters liable to punishment;

bíta

~ á e-n, to affect, make an impression on one;

bíta

þetta lét Kjartan á sik ~, K. took this to heart;

bíta

láta e-t eigi á sik ~, to be proof against, to be unaffected by a thing;

bíta

5) e-t bítr fyrir, is decisive, decides or settles the matter, esp. so as to render it impossible; ~ e-m at fullu, to prove fatal to (hafa mik nú at fullu bitit hans ráð);

bíta

6) refl., bítast (of horses), to bite, in fighting (var honum mikil forvitni, hvé bítast vildi hestrinn) to bite one another (bítast sem hundar eða hestar).

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛒᛁᛏᛅ