Definition of BARRATRY

barratry

Meanings

Plural: barratries

Noun

  • traffic in ecclesiastical offices or preferments
  • the crime of a judge whose judgment is influenced by bribery
  • (maritime law) a fraudulent breach of duty by the master of a ship that injures the owner of the ship or its cargo; includes every breach of trust such as stealing or sinking or deserting the ship or embezzling the cargo
  • the offense of vexatiously persisting in inciting lawsuits and quarrels
  • The act of persistently instigating lawsuits, often groundless ones.
  • The sale or purchase of religious or political positions of power.
  • Unlawful or fraudulent acts by the crew of a vessel, harming the vessel's owner.

Origin / Etymology

Early 15th century, in sense “sale of offices”, from Old French baraterie (“deceit, trickery”), from barat (“fraud, deceit, trickery”), of unknown origin, perhaps Celtic. In marine sense of “unlawful acts causing loss to owner”, 1620s.

Synonyms

simony

Scrabble Score: 13

barratry is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
barratry is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
barratry is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

barratry is a valid Words With Friends word