Definition of: barratry

(bar′ə·trē) noun plural ·tries
1. Any wilful and unlawful act committed by the master or mariners of a ship, whereby the owners sustain injury.
2. In Scots law, the acceptance of a bribe by a judge.
3. The buying or selling of ecclesiastical positions.
4. Law The offense of exciting lawsuits; the stirring up of quarrels, spreading false rumors, etc. Also spelled barretry. [<OF baraterie misuse of office <barat fraud]
—bar′ra·trous adjective