C14: from Old French barateor, from barater to barter
barrator in American English
(ˈbærətər; ˈbɛrətər) or ˈbarrater (ˈbærətər; ˈbɛrətər)
noun
a person guilty of barratry
Word origin
ME baratour < OFr barateor, swindler < barater, to cheat < barate, fraud, strife < ON baratta, quarrel < berja, to beat < IE base *bher-, to cut > L ferire, to strike, kill