Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WITNESS, n. Also Sc. forms wutness (Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.), wuttness (Rxb. 1915 Kelso Chronicle (10 Dec.) 4). Sc. usages in phrs. to be ta'en witness, to be referred to as a witness, have one's name taken as a witness; to take (one) witness that, to appeal to (someone) for confirmation that . . ., to take to witness that . . .Abd. 1882 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 112:
With the approval of the police sergeant, and the concurrence of certain persons inside the tent, who had been ‘ta'en witnesses'.