noun
pursuer; pursuing party; posse
Refers to a person or group actively chasing or searching for someone, often in a dramatic or historical context. The English gloss 'posse' suggests a group, but the Japanese word can be singular or plural.
追っ手から逃れるために、彼は山道を選んだ。
To escape his pursuers, he chose the mountain path.
時代劇では、追っ手が馬に乗
In period dramas, there are often scenes where a posse on horseback chases the villain.
追跡者 is a more formal and modern term for a pursuer or tracker, while 追っ手 has a slightly old-fashioned or dramatic feel, often used in historical or action contexts.
Compound of 追う (ou, 'to chase') + 手 (te, 'person' or 'party'), with a geminate consonant (っ) for euphony. The irregular spelling 追手 reflects older or variant okurigana usage.