subs. (old).—See CROSS-BITING.

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  Verb (old).—To cheat; to scold; to hoax. [Nares thinks it a compound of CROSS and BITE. It has suffered a double abbreviation, both its components being used substantively and verbally in the same sense.] For synonyms, see STIFF.

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  1581.  B. RICH, Farewell to Militarie Profession. She was suche a deuill of her tongue, and would so CROSSEBITE hym with suche tauntes, and spightfull quippes.

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  1593.  G. HARVEY, New Letter, in wks. I., 274 (GROSART). If he playeth at fast and loose … whom shall he conny catch, or CROSBITE, but his cast-away selfe.

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  1717.  PRIOR, Alma, canto iii.

        As Nature slily had thought fit,
For some by-ends to CROSS-BIT wit.

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  1822.  SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxiii. I know—I know—ugh—but I’ll CROSS-BITE him.

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