Bär'ra-tor, n.

noun

n. [O. Fr. barateres, deceiver, from O. Fr. barater, barater, to deceive, cheat, Pr. & O. Sp. baratar, It. barattare, L. Lat. baratare, O. Fr. barat, barate, barete, fraud, deceit, discord, confusion; Pr. barat, baratta, O. Sp. barato, barata, It. baratto, most prob. from Gr. πράττειν, to do, to deal (well or ill), to use practices or tricks; πρᾶξις, action, practice, trickery. Cf. BARTER.]

  1. One who frequently excites suits at law; a common mover and maintainer of suits and controversies; an encourager of litigation. Blackstone.
  2. The master of a ship who commits any fraud in the management of the ship, or in relation to his duties as master, by which the owner or insurers are injured.
  3. (Scots Law.) A judge who takes a bribe for giving judgment. Burrill.