Wiktionary
Etymology 1 alt. 1 (context obsolete English) A taxman, one who gathers taxes. 2 A sheriff’s officer, usually one who arrests debtors. n. 1 (context obsolete English) A taxman, one who gathers taxes. 2 A sheriff’s officer, usually one who arrests debtors. Etymology 2
alt. (context historical English) An implement formerly used for seize and secure a man who would otherwise be out of reach. n. (context historical English) An implement formerly used for seize and secure a man who would otherwise be out of reach.
Wikipedia
Catchpole is a rare surname, being a type of tax collector in medieval England. The name is a combination of Old English (cace-, catch) and medieval Latin (pullus, a chick). It derives from the image that people who owed tax were as difficult to catch as farmyard hens. The Catchpole name is from Dorset, Southern England.
At that time, tax-gathering was contracted out, a system called tax farming. The catchpole paid a lump sum to be authorised to collect taxes from a given area or population, and was then able to keep whatever he could extract, using almost any method he came up with.
Later, the duties of the 'catchpole' were those of a legal official, working for the bailiff. He was mainly responsible for collecting debts, using methods hardly more restrained than those of his tax gathering forebears.
The suggestion that the name derives from a long wooden pole with a noose or barbed fork on one end, used to apprehend those who owed money, is incorrect. However 'catchpole' is the name of such a tool, used still today, mostly by animal control officials to ensnare uncontrolled animals such as aggressive dogs.
Usage examples of "catchpole".
But I supposed the searchers were no more likely to enter Alsatia than were the bailiffs and catchpoles, so we were safeif that was the wordfrom the graspings of the law.
They carried lariats, catchpoles, nets and bolos, snarley-balls and tangle-flails.
In the last recess but one, at the north end, and on the east side, there sat daily, some few years before 1840, a blind man, Michael Catchpole by name, selling shoelaces.
His absences in the Terrace at meal-times made a great gap in the day, and Tom Catchpole was constantly left in sole charge.
Thomas Catchpole, is well known to me as a perfectly honest man, and he thoroughly understands his business.
With this view, while the bailiff conducted him to bed in another apartment, he desired the catchpole to act the part of mediator between him and the Count, and furnished him with proper instructions for that purpose.
If it is true about what Catchpole told Richard, that the snow is so deep that our team could not even get as far as the road, then how will the villagers possibly get through the forest to come to Badger Hall?
Two patrolmen had catchpoles, forked shafts with a spring closure that could be thrust over a suspect's neck or limbs from a safe distance.
To tell the truth he was mean in fortunes and for the most part hankered about the coffeehouses and low taverns with crimps, ostlers, bookies, Paul's men, runners, flatcaps, waistcoateers, ladies of the bagnio and other rogues of the game or with a chanceable catchpole or a tipstaff often at nights till broad day of whom he picked up between his sackpossets much loose gossip.
Catchpole, and I thought I’d jist tell yer as soon as I could as yesterday arternoon, while I was mindin’ the shop, and he was out, I ’ad to go to the till, and it jist so ’appened, as I was a-givin’ change, I was a-lookin’ at a George the Third sovereign there, and took particklar notice of it.
Catchpole on the south coast of England were notable homes to knots of Wizarding families who lived alongside tolerant and sometimes Confunded Muggles.