Bǽtan

According to the Old English Dictionary:

bǽtan

Substitute: I. to bait, worry with dogs, &c.:--Gif ðú mid wilddeórum mé bǽtan wylt, Hml. S. 8, 85. [Icel. beita to bait, hunt with dogs, &c.] II. to beat, make way against the wind or current:--Good scipstióra ongit micelne wind on hreóre sǽ ǽr ǽr hit geweorðe, and hǽt fealdan ꝥ segl, anð eác hwílum lecgan þone mæst and lǽtan þá bǽtinge; gif hé ǽr þweores windes bǽtte, warenað hé hine wið ðæt weder a good pilot perceives a great wind on a rough sea before it comes on him, and orders the sail to be furled, and also sometimes the mast to be lowered and to leave off beating; if he have before in an adverse wind beat, he guards himself against the storm, Bt. 41, 3; S. 144, 28-32. [Icel. beita to go against the wind.] bætan