Definition

1. Noun:
   • The offense of vexatiously persisting in inciting lawsuits and quarrels: The act of habitually starting quarrels or persistently and vexatiously inciting lawsuits, typically for personal gain or to cause annoyance.
   • (Maritime law) A fraudulent breach of duty by the master of a ship that injures the owner of the ship or its cargo: An illegal act by a ship's captain that harms the ship's owner or the cargo owner. This includes acts like stealing or deserting the ship, sinking it on purpose, or embezzling the cargo.
   • The crime of a judge whose judgment is influenced by bribery: The criminal offense committed by a judge who accepts a bribe to influence a legal decision.
   • Traffic in ecclesiastical offices or preferments: The buying or selling of church positions or promotions, considered a sin and an offense in many religious contexts.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Legal - Inciting Lawsuits):
  • The attorney was disbarred for barratry after repeatedly filing frivolous lawsuits.
  • Laws against barratry aim to prevent the legal system from being clogged with unnecessary cases.
• Noun (Maritime Law):
  • The captain was accused of barratry for deliberately steering the ship into a storm to claim the insurance money.
  • Selling the cargo and keeping the profits is a clear case of maritime barratry.
• Noun (Judicial Crime):
  • The corrupt judge was convicted of barratry for accepting payments to rule in favor of certain defendants.
• Noun (Ecclesiastical):
  • The practice of barratry was a significant problem in the medieval church.

Advanced Usage

• "Common barratry": A term sometimes used to specify the offense of vexatious litigation, distinguishing it from the maritime or judicial meanings.
  • The statute was designed to combat common barratry.
• "Barratrous act": An action that constitutes barratry.
  • Scuttling the vessel was a barratrous act.

Variants and Related Words

• Barrator (noun): A person who commits barratry, especially one who incites lawsuits.
  • The court identified him as a known barrator.
• Barratrous (adjective): Characterized by or involving barratry.
  • The owner sued the captain for his barratrous conduct.

Synonyms

• (For inciting lawsuits): Champerty, maintenance, vexatious litigation, stirring up strife.
• (For maritime fraud): Maritime fraud, breach of fiduciary duty.
• (For judicial crime): Judicial corruption, bribery.
• (For ecclesiastical traffic): Simony.

Notes on Meaning

This word has four distinct, specialized meanings primarily used in legal, maritime, and historical/religious contexts. The core concept connecting them is the abuse of a position of trust or the malicious stirring up of trouble for improper gain. It is a rare and formal term not used in everyday conversation.

Noun

1. the offense of vexatiously persisting in inciting lawsuits and quarrels
2. (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
3. the crime of a judge whose judgment is influenced by bribery
4. traffic in ecclesiastical offices or preferments