Definition: bate

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

bate
     v 1: moderate or restrain; lessen the force of; "He bated his
          breath when talking about this affair"; "capable of
          bating his enthusiasm"
     2: flap the wings wildly or frantically; used of falcons
     3: soak in a special solution to soften and remove chemicals
        used in previous treatments; "bate hides and skins"

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Bate \Bate\, n. [Prob. abbrev. from debate.]
   Strife; contention. [Obs.] --Shak.
Bate \Bate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bated; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Bating.] [From abate.]
   1. To lessen by retrenching, deducting, or reducing; to
      abate; to beat down; to lower.

            He must either bate the laborer's wages, or not
            employ or not pay him.                --Locke.

   2. To allow by way of abatement or deduction.

            To whom he bates nothing or what he stood upon with
            the parliament.                       --South.

   3. To leave out; to except. [Obs.]

            Bate me the king, and, be he flesh and blood. He
            lies that says it.                    --Beau. & Fl.

   4. To remove. [Obs.]

            About autumn bate the earth from about the roots of
            olives, and lay them bare.            --Holland.

   5. To deprive of. [Obs.]

            When baseness is exalted, do not bate The place its
            honor for the person's sake.          --Herbert.
Bate \Bate\, v. t.
   To steep in bate, as hides, in the manufacture of leather.
Bate \Bate\, v. i.
   1. To remit or retrench a part; -- with of.

            Abate thy speed, and I will bate of mine. --Dryden.

   2. To waste away. [Obs.] --Shak.
Bate \Bate\, v. t.
   To attack; to bait. [Obs.] --Spenser.
Bate \Bate\,
   imp. of Bite. [Obs.] --Spenser.
Bate \Bate\, v. i. [F. battre des ailes to flutter. Cf. Bait
   to flutter.]
   To flutter as a hawk; to bait. [Obs.] --Bacon.
Bate \Bate\, n. [Cf. Sw. beta maceration, soaking, G. beize, and
   E. bite.]
   An alkaline solution consisting of the dung of certain
   animals; -- employed in the preparation of hides; grainer.
   --Knight.
Bate \Bate\, n. (Jewish Antiq.)
   See 2d Bath.
Grainer \Grain"er\, n.
   1. An infusion of pigeon's dung used by tanners to neutralize
      the effects of lime and give flexibility to skins; --
      called also grains and bate.

   2. A knife for taking the hair off skins.

   3. One who paints in imitation of the grain of wood, marble,
      etc.; also, the brush or tool used in graining.