north. and Sc. Obs. Forms: see WITNESS sb. [a. ON. vitnismaðr (f. vitnis, gen. of vitni witness + maðr MAN sb.1), accommodated in form to WITNESS sb. and MAN sb.1] a. A witness. b. The (tenurial) duty of providing a witness in court.
10[?]. in Reg. St. Bees Priory (Surtees), 527. Myd bode and wytnesmann on thyylk stow. Ibid. (1278), 374. Pro witnesman et summonitoribus inveniendis ad faciendum districciones.
1292. Anc. Deed, L. 458 (P.R.O.) [cf. Ibid., 374]. Quieti de secta facienda ad Curiam meum … et de Bode et de Wyttenesman … que seruicia quondam petii de predictis Abbati et Conuentu.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xii. (Mathias), 323. Ȝe sal of me be wytnes-mene In þe towne of Ierusalem.
1451. Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 19. The quhilk assise ripely avisit, and the witnesmen examynit and herd in the cause.
1493. Acta Dom. Conc. (1839), 319/2. Þe lard of Amisfelde sall cause his officiare with twa witnesmen … to pynd apoun þe commoune þat is debatabile.
