catchpoll

Variant of catchpole

catchpole definition

catch·pole or catchpoll catch′·poll′ (-pōl′)

noun

Historical, Brit. a sheriff's officer who arrested nonpaying debtors

Etymology: ME cacchepol & Late OE cæcepol, tax gatherer < Anglo-Fr cache-pol, lit., chicken chaser < ML cacepollus < *cacere (< VL *captiare: see catch) + L pullus, fowl: see poultry

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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