Bating

bate ¹  (bt)

tr.v. bat·ed, bat·ing, bates

1. To lessen the force or intensity of; moderate: "To his dying day he bated his breath a little when he told the story" (George Eliot). See Usage Note at bait¹.

2. To take away; subtract.

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[Middle English baten, short for abaten; see abate.]

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bate ² also bait  (bt)

intr.v. bat·ed also bait·ed, bat·ing also bait·ing, bates also baits

To flap the wings wildly or frantically. Used of a falcon.

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[Middle English baten, from Old French batre, to beat; see batter¹.]