Bait, vb., 1) to attack with dogs, to set dogs upon: “we'll b. thy bears to death,” H6B V, 1, 148. “have you not set mine honour at the stake and --ed it with all the unmuzzled thoughts that tyrannous heart can think?” Tw. III, 1, 130.
2) to harass in a manner like that of dogs: “Alas, poor Maccabaeus, how hath he been --ed!” LLL V, 2, 634. “to b. me with this foul derision,” Mids. III, 2, 197. “who late hath beat her husband and now --s me,” Wint. II, 3, 92. “my wretchedness doth b. myself,” R2 IV, 238. “--ed with one that wants her wits,” Cor. IV, 2, 43. “--ed with the rabble's curse,” Mcb. V, 8, 29. Caes. IV, 3, 28. In 27 some M. Edd. with F2 bait, others with F1, which is undoubtedly in the right, bay. In R3 I, 3, 109 Qq: to be so taunted, scorned and baited at; Ff: so baited, scorned and stormed at.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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