bearbaiting

Noun

bearbaiting (countable and uncountable, plural bearbaitings)

1. A blood sport in which dogs are set upon a chained bear
   • But bearbaiting, then a favourite diversion of high and low, was the abomination which most strongly stirred the wrath of the austere sectaries.1858, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England
   • By this the whole matter had presented itself to them as an entertainment more diverting than bullfight or bearbaiting.1900, Mary Johnston, To Have and To Hold
2. (figuratively) A bloodthirsty free for all.
   • All of these pivoted on the larger Problems: Not only how the press should discuss sexual morality of public officials but whether this ever should be a measure of fitness for public office; not only how the local press will allow its judgment to be pre-empted or conditioned by the Washington...1977, The Journalism Quarterly - Volume 54, page 454
   • But that's not the worst part of the phenomenon that the press conference bearbaiting illustrates.1983, Editorials on File - Volume 14, Part 2, page 774