Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Bait \Bait\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Baited}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Baiting}.] [OE. baiten, beit?n, to feed, harass, fr. Icel.
   beita, orig. to cause to bite, fr. b[=i]ta. [root]87. See
   {Bite}.]
   1. To provoke and harass; esp., to harass or torment for
      sport; as, to bait a bear with dogs; to bait a bull.

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

   3. To furnish or cover with bait, as a trap or hook.

            A crooked pin . . . bailed with a vile earthworm.
                                                  --W. Irving.

Bait \Bait\, 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.

         Evil news rides post, while good news baits. --Milton.

         My lord's coach conveyed me to Bury, and thence baiting
         at Newmarket.                            --Evelyn.

Bait \Bait\, v. i. [F. battre de l'aile (or des ailes), to flap
   or flutter. See {Batter}, v. i.]
   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.

Bait \Bait\, n. [Icel. beita food, beit pasture, akin to AS.
   b[=a]t food, Sw. bete. See {Bait}, v. i.]
   1. Any substance, esp. food, used in catching fish, or other
      animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, inclosure, or
      net.

   2. Anything which allures; a lure; enticement; temptation.
      --Fairfax.

   3. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a
      journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.

   4. A light or hasty luncheon.

   {Bait bug} (Zo["o]l), a crustacean of the genus {Hippa} found
      burrowing in sandy beaches. See {Anomura}.

Source : WordNet®

bait
     n 1: anything that serves as an enticement [syn: {come-on}, {hook},
           {lure}, {sweetener}]
     2: something used to lure victims into danger [syn: {decoy}, {lure}]
     v 1: harass with persistent criticism or carping; "The children
          teased the new teacher"; "Don't ride me so hard over my
          failure"; "His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a
          jacket and tie" [syn: {tease}, {razz}, {rag}, {cod}, {tantalize},
           {tantalise}, {taunt}, {twit}, {rally}, {ride}]
     2: lure, entice, or entrap with bait
     3: attack with dogs or set dogs upon