bullbaiting

American  

[bool-bey-ting] / ˈbʊlˌbeɪ tɪŋ /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of bullbaiting

First recorded in 1570–80; bull ¹ + baiting

Example Sentences

They gathered that it was a sort of bullbaiting dance.

From 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.

From 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.

From 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.

From Project Gutenberg

Bullbaiting and cockfighting were no more peculiar to this neighbourhood than parson-pelting or woman ducking at Coventry, where the pillory and ducking-stool were in use long after they had been put aside in Birmingham.

From Project Gutenberg