subpoena : Idioms & Phrases

• noun a writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding; disobedience may be punishable as a contempt of court
  subpoena.
  

WordNet

• NL. A writ used to procure the attendance of a witness for the purpose of testifying.

Webster 1913

• noun a writ issued by a court at the request of one of the parties to a suit; it requires a witness to bring to court or to a deposition any relevant documents under the witness's control
  

WordNet

• NL. A writ which requires a witness to attend and bring certain documents.

Webster 1913