barratry

English

Etymology

Early 15th century, in sense “sale of offices”, from Old French baraterie (“deceit, trickery”), from barat (“fraud, deceit, trickery”), of Unknown origin, perhaps (deprecated template usage) [etyl] . In marine sense of “unlawful acts causing loss to owner”, 1620s..

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbæɹətɹi/

Noun

barratry (countable and uncountable, plural barratries)

1. The act of persistently instigating lawsuits, often groundless ones.
2. The sale or purchase of religious or political positions of power.
3. (admiralty law) Unlawful or fraudulent acts by the crew of a vessel, harming the vessel's owner.

Coordinate terms

• (sale or purchase of positions of power): simony

Related terms

• barrator
• barratrous
• barratrously

See also

• champerty