פְּתִיחָא II, (פְּתַח) [opening,] preliminary legal proceeding, esp. summons to appear before, or to obey the decision of the court under penalty of excommunication; warrant. R. Hash. 31ᵇ כתב פ׳ עילווה (Ms. M. 2 פיתקא) he wrote a warrant out against her. B. Kam. 112ᵇ נטרינן ליה … פתיחה עילויה וכ׳ we wait for him a Monday and a Thursday and another Monday; if he does not appear, we write a warrant against him, giving him ninety days &c. Ib. והני מילי לשמתא אבל לפ׳ וכ׳ this is the case with reference to decreeing excommunication, but for writing a warrant (at the defendant’s expense) it is not so (the court messenger’s statement is not so valid as the testimony of two). Ib. 113ᵃ האי מאן דכתיב עליה פ׳ (Ms. M. דנקיט) if a warrant has been issued against a person; a. e.