noun (formerly) a petty officer of
justice, especially one arresting persons for debt.
Also, catch·poll.
Origin: 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 Related forms catch·pol·er·y, catch·poll·er·y, noun