I. ˈbāt verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse beita; akin to Old English bǣtan to bait, bītan to bite — more at bite
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to persecute or exasperate with unjust, malicious, or persistent attacks
b. : tease
2.
a. : to harass (as a chained animal) with dogs usually for sport
b. : to attack by biting and tearing
3.
a. : to furnish with bait
b. : entice , lure
4. : to give food and drink to (an animal) especially on the road
intransitive verb
archaic : to stop for food and rest when traveling
• bait·er noun
Synonyms:
bait , badger , heckle , hector , chivy , hound mean to harass by efforts to break down. bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim
baited the chained dog
badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy
badgered her father for a car
heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker
drunks heckled the stand-up comic
hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering
football players hectored by their coach
chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging
chivied the new student mercilessly
hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing
hounded by creditors
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse beit pasturage & beita food; akin to Old English bītan to bite
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : something (as food) used in luring especially to a hook or trap
b. : a poisonous material placed where it will be eaten by harmful or objectionable animals
2. : lure , temptation