bullbaiting

[bool-bey-ting]

noun

1. the action or sport of setting dogs upon a bull in a pen or arena.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bullbaiting¹

First recorded in 1570–80; bull ¹ + baiting

Example Sentences

Lily had read up on bulldogs and didn’t like that they had such a sad history of being used for bullbaiting and all.

Read more on Literature

They gathered that it was a sort of bullbaiting dance.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Reaching gingerly for Significance, Gorer wonders what ever happened to the aggressive Englishmen of Elizabethan and 18th century cockfighting and bullbaiting days, and decides that lusty John Bull still exists, not cowed but merely caged.

Read more on Time Magazine Archive

At Chapel Wake, 1798, some law-defying reprobates started a bullbaiting on Snow Hill, but the Loyal Association of Volunteers turned out, and with drums beating and colours flying soon put the rebels to flight, pursuing them as far as Birmingham Heath, where the baiters got a beating, the Loyals returning home in triumph with the bull as a trophy.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Bullbaiting was prohibited in 1773 by Order in Council, and an Act was passed in 1835, to put a stop to all baiting of bulls, badgers, and bears.

Read more on Project Gutenberg