bight

noun

ˈbīt 

1

: a bend in a coast forming an open bay

also : a bay formed by such a bend

2

: a slack part or loop in a rope

Synonyms

• arm
• bay
• cove
• creek [chiefly British]
• embayment
• estuary
• firth
• fjord
• fiord
• gulf
• inlet
• loch [Scottish]

Examples of bight in a Sentence

the bight known as the Bay of Fundy is known for its fast-running tides

Recent Examples on the Web

In recent years, The Row has provided light bights and beverages at their presentations, which isn't common practice among other labels but is likely appreciated by everyone bopping from show to show. —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2024

How much rain the region will get through Friday hinges on whether the storm basically stalls in the Southern California bight, the coastal region between Point Conception and San Diego, forecasters say. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Dec. 2023

The Heaving Line Knot: Make two bights and put them next to one another. —Craig Caudill, Field & Stream, 12 July 2023

Push the working end through the opening of the bottom bight to finish the knot. —Craig Caudill, Field & Stream, 12 July 2023

To rig it, tie a figure eight on a bight in the bouncer’s factory webbing, then clip the bight to a daisy chain with a carabiner. —Emily Stifler Wolfe, Outside Online, 26 Apr. 2021

Cow Bay is one of those bights, right where the suburbs of Dartmouth and Cole Harbour begin to fade into something more rural. —Melissa Buote, Bon Appétit, 7 Nov. 2019

Going at a speed of forty miles an hour, the hydroplane was heading up the bight in the direction of the sand-pit which connects North Island with Coronado. —sandiegouniontribune.com, 27 Jan. 2018

Following the path of the moon and sun along the Zodiac will be Gemini and Cancer as the bight winter season constellations of Orion and Taurus move farther west in the prime viewing hours of the evening sky. —Richard Tribou, OrlandoSentinel.com, 26 Feb. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English byht bend, bay; akin to Old English būgan to bend — more at bow

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bight

• bite
• blight
• byte
• cite
• dight
• fight
• fite
• flight
• fright
• height
• hight
• kite

Kids Definition

bight

noun

ˈbīt 

1

: a bend in a coast or the bay it forms

2

: a slack part or loop in a rope