The practices, tactics, or behavior characteristic of catchpoles; corrupt debt collection or oppressive law enforcement.
From 'catchpole' + '-ery' suffix (denoting practices, behavior, or a place where such activity occurs). Created to describe the systematic corruption associated with catchpole activities.
When medieval writers complained about 'catchpolery,' they were describing what we'd now call institutional corruption—officials using their position to exploit the poor. The suffix '-ery' made it a system of behavior, not just individual misconduct.
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