barratry
noun
bar·ra·try ˈber-ə-trē 
ˈba-rə-
plural barratries
1
: the purchase or sale of office or preferment in church or state
2
: an unlawful act or fraudulent breach of duty by a master of a ship or by the mariners to the injury of the owner of the ship or cargo
3
: the persistent incitement of litigation
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Tran withdrew her federal suit against Watts for identity theft, but filed another one in state court, along with the barratry claim against him and Hilliard, both of whom deny any wrongdoing. 
Francesca Mari, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2020
Francesca Mari, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2020 Word History
Etymology
Middle English (Scots) barratrie, from Anglo-French *baraterie, literally, deception, from Old French barater to be active, do business, cause strife, deceive, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *prattare, from Greek prattein, prassein to do — more at practical
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
barratry
noun
bar·ra·try ˈbar-ə-trē
plural barratries
1
: an unlawful act or fraudulent breach of duty by a ship's master or crew that injures the interests of the ship's or cargo's owners —often used in marine insurance policies
Note: Examples of barratry include embezzling cargo, stealing a ship's equipment, or willfully sinking a ship.
2
: the persistent incitement of litigation
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