A

Latin. From the red to the black. From the title of a statute in red ink, to the body of it in black ink. As a rule of interpretation, to refer from the (red) title or rubric to the (black) body of the statute. It was anciently the custom to print statutes in this manner. 

Acts of Parliament formerly had their titles printed in red, which thus obtained the name of 'rubrics' ; and this phrase means that the rubric, as a part of the statute, may lie considered in construing the Act itself. Where the title of a statute is ...