Crankbait
/ˈkræŋk.beɪt/noun
A fishing lure designed to wobble or dive when retrieved, especially one meant to imitate baitfish.
Did you know?Crankbait is a modern compound from crank and bait, so its eerie power is mechanical rather than ancient: the lure’s wobble is engineered to provoke a strike, like a tiny ritual of deception.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
bec
“bait, something used to lure fish or animals”
Middle English
ME
beten
“to entice or lure”
16th Century
English
crank
“a bend, twist, or turn; later a hand-turned device”
19th Century
English
bait
“food or lure used to catch fish or animals”
20th Century
English
crankbait
“a fishing lure retrieved with a crank-like motion to make it dive and wobble”