catchpole

or catch·poll

[ kach-pohl ]
/ ˈkætʃˌpoʊl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR catchpole ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

(formerly) a petty officer of justice, especially one arresting persons for debt.

Origin of catchpole

before 1050; Middle English cacchepol, late Old English cæcephol < Medieval Latin cacepollus tax-gatherer, literally, chase-fowl, equivalent to cace- (< Old North French; see catch) + pollus < Latin pullus chick; see pullet

OTHER WORDS FROM catchpole

catch·pol·er·y, catch·poll·er·y, noun

Words nearby catchpole

catchline, catchment, catchment area, catchment board, catchpenny, catchpole, catchup, catchwater drain, catchweed, catchweight, catchword

Words related to catchpole

commissioner, nominee, deputy, envoy, member, minister, senator, ambassador, vicar, mouthpiece, viceroy, emissary, surrogate, spokesperson, appointee, rep, alternate, agent, plenipotentiary, proxy

Example sentences from the Web for catchpole

British Dictionary definitions for catchpole

catchpole

catchpoll

/ (ˈkætʃˌpəʊl) /

noun

(in medieval England) a sheriff's officer who arrested debtors

Word Origin for catchpole

Old English cæcepol, from Medieval Latin cacepollus tax-gatherer, literally: chicken-chaser, from cace- catch + pollus (from Latin pullus chick)