barratrous

enUK

bar·ra·try

B0087700 (băr′ə-trē)n. pl. bar·ra·tries 1. The act or practice of bringing a groundless lawsuit or lawsuits.2. An unlawful breach of duty on the part of a ship's master or crew resulting in injury to the ship's owner.3. Sale or purchase of positions in church or state.
[Middle English barratrie, the sale of church offices, from Old French baraterie, deception, malversation, from barater, to cheat; see barrator.]
bar′ra·trous (-trəs) adj.bar′ra·trous·ly adv.