or BARRETOR, in Law, a person guilty of barretory. See BARRETRY.

Lambert derives the word barretor from the Latin balatro, "a vile knave;" but the proper derivation is from the French barreuteur, i.e. "a deceiver;" and this agrees with the description of a common barretor in my Lord Coke's report, viz. that he is a common mover and maintainer of suits in disturbance of the peace, and in taking and detaining the possession of houses and lands or goods by false inventions, &c. And therefore it was adjudged that the indictment against him ought to be in these words, viz. That he is communis malefactor, columniator, et seminator titium et discordiarum inter vicinos suos, et pacis regis perturbator, &c. And there it is said that a common barretor is the most dangerous oppressor in the law, for he oppresses the innocent by colour of law, which was made to protect them from oppression.