The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Barratry \Bar"ra*try\, n. [Cf. F. baraterie, LL. barataria. See
   Barrator, and cf. Bartery.]
   1. (Law) The practice of exciting and encouraging lawsuits
      and quarrels. [Also spelt barretry.] --Coke. Blackstone.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Mar. Law) A fraudulent breach of duty or willful act of
      known illegality on the part of a master of a ship, in his
      character of master, or of the mariners, to the injury of
      the owner of the ship or cargo, and without his consent.
      It includes every breach of trust committed with dishonest
      purpose, as by running away with the ship, sinking or
      deserting her, etc., or by embezzling the cargo. --Kent.
      --Park.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Scots Law) The crime of a judge who is influenced by
      bribery in pronouncing judgment. --Wharton.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

barratry
    n 1: traffic in ecclesiastical offices or preferments [syn:
         simony, barratry]
    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 offense of vexatiously persisting in inciting lawsuits
       and quarrels

Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

BARRATRY, crimes. In old law French barat, baraterie, signifying robbery,
deceit, fraud. In modern usage it may be defined as the habitual moving,
exciting, and maintaining suits and quarrels, either at law or otherwise. 1
Inst. 368; 1 Hawk. 243.
     2. A man cannot be indicted as a common barrator in respect of any
number of false and groundless actions brought in his own right, nor for a
single act in right of another; for that would not make him a common
barrator.
     3. Barratry, in this sense, is different from maintenance (q. v.) and
champerty. (q. v.)
     4. An attorney cannot be indicted for this crime, merely for
maintaining another in a groundless action. Vide 15 Mass. R. 229 1 Bailey's
R. 379; 11 Pick. R. 432; 13 Pick. R. 362; 9 Cowen, R. 587; Bac. Ab. h. t.;
Hawk. P. C. B. 1, c. 21; Roll. Ab. 335; Co. Litt. 368; 3 Inst. 175.



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

BARRATRY, maritime law, crimes. A fraudulent act of the master or mariners,
committed contrary to their duty as such, to the prejudice of the owners of
the ship. Emer. tom. 1, p. 366; Merlin, Repert. h. t.; Roccus, h. t.; 2
Marsh. Insur. 515; 8 East, R. 138, 139. As to what will amount to barratry,
see Abbott on Shipp. 167, n. 1; 2 Wash. C. C. R. 61; 9 East, R. 126; 1 Str.
581; 2 Ld. Raym. 1349; 1 Term R. 127; 6 Id. 379; 8 Id. 320; 2 Cain. R. 67,
222; 3 Cain. R. 1; 1 John. R. 229; 8 John. R. 209, n. 2d edit.; 5 Day. R. 1;
11 John. R. 40; 13 John. R, 451; 2 Binn. R. 274; 2 Dall. R. 137; 8 Cran. R.
39; 3 Wheat. R. 168; 4 Dall. R. 294; 1 Yeates, 114.
     2. The act of Congress of April, 30, 1790, s. 8, 1 Story's Laws U. S.
84, punishes with death as piracy, "any captain or mariner of any ship or
other vessel who shall piratically and feloniously run away with such ship
or vessel, or any goods or merchandize to the value of fifty dollars; or
yield up such ship or vessel to any pirate or if any such seamen shall lay
violent hands upon his commander, thereby to binder or prevent his fighting
in defence of his ship, or goods, committed to his trust, or shall make a
revolt in the said ship."