Archaic term for a low-ranking official who arrested criminals, similar to a constable or policeman in pre-modern Japan. Not used in contemporary language.
The constables of the Edo period had a different role from modern police officers.
岡っ引き refers to a lower, semi-official Edo-period informant-detective, whereas 捕吏 denotes the more formally recognized arresting official of pre-modern times.
捕り手 and 捕吏 both mean an archaic arresting officer, but 捕り手 is the more common word in historical fiction while 捕吏 is a rarer, more literary/formal term.
Composed of 捕 (capture, arrest) and 吏 (official, minor government officer). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term was used in pre-modern Japan for low-ranking law enforcement personnel.