barratry

名词 barratry:

1. traffic in ecclesiastical offices or preferments
   同义词：simony
2. the crime of a judge whose judgment is influenced by bribery
3. (maritime law) a fraudulent breach of duty by the master of a ship that injures the owner of the ship or its cargo; includes every breach of trust such as stealing or sinking or deserting the ship or embezzling the cargo
4. the offence of vexatiously persisting in inciting lawsuits and quarrels

bar.ra.try

n.（名词）
【复数】 bar.ra.tries
Law The offense of persistently instigating lawsuits, typically groundless ones.
【法律】 诉讼挑唆：持续不断地挑唆诉讼（尤指没有理由的诉讼）的违法行为
An unlawful breach of duty on the part of a ship`s master or crew resulting in injury to the ship`s owner:
非法行为：导致船主受损失的船长或海员的不合法的失职行为：
例句：
.Gross misconduct of the officers is . . . barratry.(Tom Clancy)
.这些船上官员的胡作非为是…重大失职.(汤姆·克兰西)

Sale or purchase of positions in church or state.
圣职买卖，官职买卖

来源：
Middle English barratrie [the sale of church offices]
中古英语 barratrie [圣职的出售]
from Old French baraterie [deception, malversation]
源自 古法语 baraterie [欺诈，营私舞弊]
from barater [to cheat] * see barrator
源自 barater [欺骗] *参见 barrator

【引伸】
bar.ratrous
bar.ratrously
adv.（副词）