catchpole

noun

catch·pole ˈkach-ˌpōl

ˈkech-

variants or catchpoll

: a sheriff's deputy

especially : one who makes arrests for failure to pay a debt

Examples of catchpole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Waterford police captured the snake July 16 during the midnight shift using a catchpole – the long metal rod with a looped cable at its end normally used for catching stray dogs – and took it to Oakland County Animal Control & Pet Adoption Center, where Lauderback quickly came to pick it up. —

Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 23 July 2023 The alligator can be seen thrashing on the ground near the ATM after one officer gets his catchpole on it. —

Fox News, 2 Sep. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'catchpole.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of catchpole was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century