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Barratry

//ˈbæɹətɹi// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The act of persistently instigating lawsuits, often groundless ones. countable, uncountable

    "[Deacon Mushrat to Pogo:] The Machiavellian barratry of a pettifogging public has maundered into do-nothingism."

  2. 2
    the offense of vexatiously persisting in inciting lawsuits and quarrels wordnet
  3. 3
    The sale or purchase of religious or political positions of power. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    (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 wordnet
  5. 5
    Unlawful or fraudulent acts by the crew of a vessel, harming the vessel's owner. countable, uncountable
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  1. 6
    the crime of a judge whose judgment is influenced by bribery wordnet
  2. 7
    traffic in ecclesiastical offices or preferments wordnet

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.

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