Summons

A writ or process by which an action is begun, the defendant being thereby summoned to appear in court to answer the plaintiff; in the code states, a mere notice that an action has been begun and that the defendant is required to answer.

In old English law

An original writ directed to a sheriff, requiring him to Bummon a defendant to appear to answer to an action; a process by which a defendant was summoned to appear in compliance with an original writ already issued, or by which he had notice that the writ had been issued.