bait

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Baited; p. pr. & vb. n. Baiting. ] [ OE. baiten, beitēn, to feed, harass, fr. Icel. beita, orig., to cause to bite, fr. bīta. √87. See Bite. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To provoke and harass; esp., to harass or torment for sport; as, to bait a bear with dogs; to bait a bull. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give a portion of food and drink to, upon the road; as, to bait horses. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To furnish or cover with bait, as a trap or hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

A crooked pin . . . baited with a vile earthworm. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment of one's self or one's beasts, on a journey. [ 1913 Webster ]

Evil news rides post, while good news baits. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

My lord's coach conveyed me to Bury, and thence baiting at Newmarket. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ F. battre de l'aile (or des ailes), to flap or flutter. See Batter, v. t. ] To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a hawk when she stoops to her prey. “Kites that bait and beat.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who baits; a tormentor. [ 1913 Webster ]