[bar.ra.try] n, pl -tries [ME barratrie, fr. MF baraterie deception, fr. barater to deceive, exchange] (15c) 1: the purchase or sale of office or preferment in church or state
2: an unlawful act or fraudulent breach of duty on the part of a master of a ship or of the mariners to the injury of the owner of the ship or cargo
3: the persistent incitement of litigation