E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Rhyming to Death.
The Irish at one time believed that their children and cattle could be “eybitten,” that is, bewitched by an evil eye, and that the “eybitter,” or witch could “rime” them to death. (R. Scott: Discovery of Witch-craft.) (See RATS.)
