\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.