E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Subpœ’na
is a writ given to a man commanding him to appear in court, to bear witness or give evidence on a certain trial named in the writ. It is so called because the party summoned is bound to appear sub pœna centum libro’rum (under a penalty of £100). We have the verb to subpœna.
