berley
1 of 2noun
ber·ley ˈbər-lē 
plural -s
Australia
: bait that is scattered on water in order to attract fish : ground bait
They vary a little, but the best ordinary berley is made out of bran, pollard, flour, salt or fresh herrings or tinned fish and bread crumbs.
Charles Thackery, The Amateur Fisherman's Guide, 1895
Charles Thackery, The Amateur Fisherman's Guide, 1895Try mixing a very stiff berley of soaked pellets and bread or crusts … Greg Irving, The Advertiser (Australia), 24 Dec. 1993
Greg Irving, The Advertiser (Australia), 24 Dec. 1993Another favorite fishing technique was to stand in the lee of a point with a spear poised over the still water, spitting chewed-up mussels into the water as berley. Tim Fridtjof Flannery, The Birth of Sydney, 2000
Tim Fridtjof Flannery, The Birth of Sydney, 2000berley
2 of 2verb, transitive + intransitive
ber·ley ˈbər-lē
berleyed; berleying; berleys
Australia
: to use berley to attract fish
Mr Hepburn … said berleying encouraged sharks in canals and may make them "more comfortable" around boats and swimmers. Paul Weston, Sunday Mail (Queensland, Australia), 29 May 2005
Paul Weston, Sunday Mail (Queensland, Australia), 29 May 2005He said the penalty for unlawful berleying using animal or bird products would depend on the circumstances. Clare Peddie, The Advertiser (Australia), 10 Nov. 2010
Clare Peddie, The Advertiser (Australia), 10 Nov. 2010Jetty fish are usually berleyed too heavily during holiday periods, filling them up and putting them off the bite. Greg Irving, The Advertiser (Australia), 24 Dec. 1993
Greg Irving, The Advertiser (Australia), 24 Dec. 1993
Word History
Etymology
Noun
origin unknown
First Known Use
Verb, Transitive + Intransitive
1874, in the meaning defined above