to entice by deception or trickery so as to entrap or destroy: using fake signal lights to bait the ships onto the rocks.
9.
to attract, tempt, or captivate.
10.
to set dogs upon (an animal) for sport.
11.
to worry, torment, or persecute, esp. with malicious remarks: a nasty habit of baiting defenseless subordinates.
12.
to tease: They love to bait him about his gaudy ties.
13.
to feed and water (a horse or other animal), esp. during a journey.
–verb (used without object) Archaic.
14.
to stop for food or refreshment during a journey.
15.
(of a horse or other animal) to take food; feed.
Origin: 1150–1200; ME bait, beit (n.), baiten (v.) < ON, prob. reflecting both beita to pasture, hunt, chase with dogs or hawks (ult. causative of bíta to bite; cf. bate3) and beita fish bait
Food or other lure placed on a hook or in a trap and used in the taking of fish, birds, or other animals.
Something, such as a worm, used for this purpose.
An enticement; a temptation.
Archaic A stop for food or rest during a trip.
v.
bait·ed, bait·ing, baits
v.
tr.
To place a lure in (a trap) or on (a fishing hook).
To entice, especially by trickery or strategy.
To set dogs upon (a chained animal, for example) for sport.
To attack or torment, especially with persistent insults, criticism, or ridicule.
To tease.
To feed (an animal), especially on a journey.
v.
intr.Archaic To stop for food or rest during a trip.
[Middle English, from Old Norse beita, food, fodder, fish bait. V., from Old Norse beita, to put animals to pasture, hunt with dogs; see bheid- in Indo-European roots.] bait'er n.
Usage Note: The word baited is sometimes incorrectly substituted for the etymologically correct but unfamiliar word bated ("abated; suspended") in the expression bated breath.
[beyt] 
