catchpole

See also: Catchpole

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkatʃpəʊl/

Etymology 1

From Old French chacepol (“one who chases fowls”) (or a northern variant thereof).

Alternative forms

• catchpoll

Noun

catchpole (plural catchpoles)

1. (obsolete) A taxman, one who gathers taxes.
   • 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1965, →OCLC, page 247:

     With two such catchpoles as Henry and Uncle Fred at his heels there was nothing left for Grandpa Piper but to sign his abdication to the drapery business.

2. A sheriff’s officer, usually one who arrests debtors.

Translations

sheriff's officer

• Czech: dráb (cs) m, biřic m

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• German: Gerichtsdiener (de) m

See also

• myrmidon

Etymology 2

catch +‎ pole

Alternative forms

• catch-pole

Noun

catchpole (plural catchpoles)

1. (historical) An implement formerly used for seizing and securing a person who would otherwise be out of reach.
   • 1843, Henry Shaw, Dresses and Decorations of the Middle Ages, W Pickering:

     The use of the catch-pole is said to have been to take horsemen in battle by the neck and drag them from their horses.

References

• “catchpole”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.