From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Bait \Bait\ (b[=a]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Baited; p. pr. & vb.
n. Baiting.] [OE. baiten, beit[=e]n, to feed, harass, fr.
Icel. beita, orig., to cause to bite, fr. b[imac]ta.
[root]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]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
baiting \baiting\ (b[=a]t"[i^]ng), n.
harassment, especially of a tethered animal.
[WordNet 1.5]