E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bite.
A cheat; one who bites us. “The biter bit” explains the origin. We say “a man was bitten” when he “burns his fingers” meddling with something which promised well but turned out a failure.
1
To bite the dust, as “Their enemies shall bite the dust,” i.e. be slain in battle.
