bearbaiting

== English == === Alternative forms === bear-baiting, bear baiting === Etymology === From Middle English bere baityng; equivalent to bear +‎ baiting or bearbait +‎ -ing. === Noun === bearbaiting (countable and uncountable, plural bearbaitings) A blood sport in which dogs are set upon a chained bear (figurative) A bloodthirsty free for all. ==== See also ==== poke the bear === Verb === bearbaiting present participle and gerund of bearbait === Further reading === bearbaiting on Wikipedia.Wikipedia