The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word TROLL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
T
R
O
L
L
More clues leading to the result TROLL
- Republican admitted to charge, a provocateur
- Winding up on internet register after time
- Fish being found under bridge?
- Ugly dwarf’s charge for passage across river
- Look for a bite in the end to eat: bagel
- Secured by ring, second bit of fresh bait
- Internet pest missing start of leisurely walk
- After time register one living under bridge?
- One tries to cause upset and turmoil – occasionally crossing line
- Fish cake on tray for starter
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "bait" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case bait = troll.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TROLL mean?
TROLL noun- A supernatural being of varying size, now especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges.
- An ugly person of either sex, especially one seeking sexual experiences.
- Optical ejections from the top of the electrically active core regions of thunderstorms that are red in color that seem to occur after tendrils of vigorous sprites extend downward toward the cloud tops.
- An instance of trolling, especially, in fishing, the trailing of a baited line.
- A person who provokes others (chiefly on the Internet) for their own personal amusement or to cause disruption.
- To saunter.
- To trundle, to roll from side to side.
- To draw someone or something out, to entice, to lure as if with trailing bait.
- (by extension) To fish using a line and bait or lures trailed behind a boat similarly to trawling; to lure fish with bait.
- To angle for with a trolling line, or with a hook drawn along the surface of the water; hence, to allure.
- To fish in; to try to catch fish from.
- To stroll about in order to find a sexual partner.
- (to post inflammatory material so as) to attempt to lure others into combative argument for purposes of personal entertainment and/or gratuitous disruption, especially in an online community or discussion
- (by extension) To incite anger (including outside of an Internet context); to provoke, harass or annoy.
- The act of moving round; routine; repetition.
- A song whose parts are sung in succession; a catch; a round.
- A trolley.
- To move circularly; to roll; to turn.
- To send about; to circulate, as a vessel in drinking.
- To sing the parts of in succession, as of a round, a catch, and the like; also, to sing loudly, freely or in a carefree way.