— barratrous , adj.
/bar"euh tree/ , n. Law.
1. fraud by a master or crew at the expense of the owners of the ship or its cargo.
2. the offense of frequently exciting and stirring up lawsuits and quarrels.
3. the purchase or sale of ecclesiastical preferments or of offices of state.
Also, barretry .
[ 1400-50; late ME barratrie baraterie combat, fighting. See BARRATOR, -ERY ]