baited breath

[dkg5151]

Where does waiting with baited breath come from?

[Lillabet]

Shakespeare I believe. It's bated breath (an abbreviated version of abbated or stopped) rather than 'baited'

1596 Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice i. iii. 125 'With bated breath, and whispring humblenesse.'"

Basically holding your breath

[Kingaroo]

The correct use is "bated" breath - meaning you are holding your breath.  "Bated" is from the verb "to abate" meaning hold back or stop, as in  "finally the storm abated."

But there are pun jokes about a cat eating cheese and waiting by the mousehole with "baited" breath.