The Collaborative International Dictionary
writ of capias
Capias \Ca"pi*as\, n. [L. thou mayst take.] (Low) A writ or process commanding the officer to take the body of the person named in it, that is, to arrest him; -- also called writ of capias.
Note: One principal kind of capias is a writ by which actions
at law are frequently commenced; another is a writ of
execution issued after judgment to satisfy damages
recovered; a capias in criminal law is the process to
take a person charged on an indictment, when he is not
in custody.
--Burrill. Wharton.