A writ. An original writ. A writ or precept of the king issuing out of his courts. A writ by which a person is summoned or attached to answer an action, complaint, etc., or whereby anything is commanded to be done in the courts, in order to justice, etc. It is called “breve,” from the brevity of it, and is addressed either to the defendant himself, or to the chancellors, judges, sheriffs, or other officers. Skene.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
