“Barratry”在不同情境下具有不同的含义，比如，在普通法下，表示“挑词架讼”（香港也称“唆讼”），而在海商法下，表示“船长或船员的不法行为”，具体解释如下所示：

第一种含义

据Black’s Law Dictionary解释，“Barratry”表示“In criminal law. The offense of frequently exciting and stirring up quarrels and suits, either at law or otherwise.”此外，Wikipedia的解释如下：“Barratry is a legal term that, at common law, described a criminal offense committed by people who are overly officious in instigating or encouraging prosecution of groundless litigation, or who bring repeated or persistent acts of litigation for the purposes of profit or harassment.”比如，在美国，如果律师被发现犯有该罪，可能会受到刑事处罚或遭到州律师协会的处分，也可能会吊销律师执照。

例句1

原文：

Any person, if an individual, who shall engage in barratry shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor; and if a corporation, may be fined not more than $10,000. If the corporation be a foreign corporation, its certificate of authority to transact business in Virginia shall be revoked by the State Corporation Commission.

（§ 18.2-452, Article 4, Chapter 10, Title 18.2, Code of Virginia）

译文：

如果个人参与挑唆诉讼，则应被控犯有一级轻罪；如果是法人参与挑唆诉讼，则应被处以10,000美元以下罚款。若属于外国法人，州公司监管局（State Corporation Commission）应吊销其在弗吉尼亚州交易的许可证。

例句2

原文：

Conduct that is made illegal by this article on the part of an attorney at law or any person holding license from the Commonwealth to engage in a profession is unprofessional conduct. Upon hearing pursuant to the provisions of § 54.1-3935, or other statute applicable to the profession concerned, if the defendant be found guilty of barratry, his license to practice law or any other profession shall be revoked for such period as provided by law.

（§ 18.2-455, Article 4, Chapter 10, Title 18.2, Code of Virginia）

译文：

律师或任何持有弗吉尼亚州颁发的从业执照之人的任何行为属于本条规定的违法行为的，应视为违法职业道德。在根据本法典第54.1-3935条或其他适用于相关执业的法规举行听证会后，若被告被控犯有挑唆诉讼罪，其持有的律师执照或任何其他从业执照应在法律规定的期限内予以吊销。

例句3

The purposes of this Part are to—

(a) provide that an ORFS agreement for arbitration is not prohibited by the common law doctrines of maintenance, champerty and barratry;

(b) provide for the validity and enforceability of ORFS agreements for arbitration that meet certain general and specific conditions; and

(c) provide for measures and safeguards in relation to ORFS agreements for arbitration.

本部的目的是——

(a) 订明关乎仲裁的ORFS协议不受助讼、包揽诉讼及唆讼的普通法法则禁止；

(b) 就关乎仲裁的ORFS协议(符合某些一般及指定条款者)的有效性及可强制执行性，订定条文；及

(c) 就关乎仲裁的ORFS协议订定措施及保障。

（香港法例第609章《仲裁条例》第98Y条）

第二种含义

据Black’s Law Dictionary解释，“Barratry”表示“In maritime law. An act committed by the master or mariners of a vessel, for some unlawful or fraudulent purpose, contrary to their duty to the owners, whereby the latter sustain injury.”此外，英国的Marine Insurance Act 1906将“barratry”定义为“includes every wrongful act willfully committed by the master or crew to the prejudice of the owner, or, as the case may be, the charterer”。比如，海上保险可能会涉及“Barratry clause”，有关该条款的解释如下所示：

“Barratry clause – a clause which provides that there can be no recovery on the policy in case of any willful misconduct on the part of the master or crew in pursuance of some unlawful or fraudulent purpose without the consent of the owner and to the prejudice of owner’s interest. It requires an intentional and willful act in its commission. No honest error or judgment or mere negligence, unless criminally gross, can be barratry. (Roque v. IAC, G.R. No. L-‐ 66935, Nov. 11, 1985)”

例句

原文：

Touching the adventures and perils which we the assurers are contented to bear and do take upon us in this voyage: they are of the seas, men of war, fire, enemies, pirates, rovers, thieves, jettisons, letters of mart and countermart, surprisals, takings at sea, arrests, restraints, and detainments of all kings, princes, and people, of what nation, condition, or quality soever, barratry of the master and mariners, and of all other perils, losses, and misfortunes, that have or shall come to the hurt, detriment, or damage of the said goods and merchandises, and ship, &c., or any part thereof.

译文：

本保险人愿意就本航次承保的航海活动和风险包括：海上风险，战争，火灾，敌人，海盗，流氓，盗窃，投弃，破坏命令和报复命令，突袭，战时扣船检查，任何国家、状况或性质的君主、君王和人民进行的扣留、拘禁和羁押，船长和船员的不法行为，以及所有已经或将会对上述货物和商品及船舶等或其任何部分造成伤害、损害或损坏的其他风险、损失和事故。

来源：

Black’s Law Dictionary；

Wikipedia；

https://batasnatin.com/law-library/mercantile-law/insurance/2121-barratry-clause.html；

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Edw7/6/41