catchpole

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See also: Catchpole

English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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

Alternative forms

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Noun

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

See also

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Etymology 2

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From catch +‎ pole.

Alternative forms

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Noun

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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

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