Main Entry:

catch·pole

Variant(s):

or catch·poll \-ˌpōl\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English cacchepol, from Anglo-French cachepole, literally, chicken chaser, from cacher + pol chicken, from Latin pullus — more at catch, pullet

Date:

before 12th century

: a sheriff's deputy ; especially : one who makes arrests for failure to pay a debt