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.

From Literature

They gathered that it was a sort of bullbaiting dance.

From Project Gutenberg

From 1625 to 1627 these statutes were passed: No one shall engage in sports or any pastimes outside his own parish or bearbaiting, bullbaiting, interludes, plays or other unlawful pastimes inside his parish on Sundays because such has led to quarrels and bloodshed and nonattendance at church.

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