barratry
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Early 15th century, in sense “sale of offices”, from Old French baraterie (“deceit, trickery”), from barat (“fraud, deceit, trickery”), of Unknown origin, perhaps Celtic.[1] In marine sense of “unlawful acts causing loss to owner”, 1620s.[1]
Pronunciation [edit]
- IPA: /ˈbæɻətɻi/
Noun [edit]
barratry (plural barratries)
- the act of persistently instigating lawsuits, often groundless ones
- the sale and/or purchase of political positions of power
- (admiralty law) unlawful or fraudulent acts by the crew of a vessel, harming the vessel's owner.
Related terms [edit]
Coordinate terms [edit]
- (sale or purchase of positions of power): simony
