A cruel sport, now illegal, in which dogs were set upon a tethered bull for entertainment; the practice of tormenting or attacking a bull.
From 'bull' combined with 'baiting' (setting animals upon something to attack). Bull-baiting was popular in medieval and early modern England as both spectacle and supposed toughening exercise for dogs.
Bull-baiting and bear-baiting were considered respectable entertainment in Shakespeare's time—theaters and baiting rings competed for audiences in the same neighborhoods. It's a stark reminder that ethics around animal cruelty have dramatically changed.
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