Legal Dictionary of Pakistan

ejusdem generic

[Latin "of the same kind or class"] A canon of construction that when a general word or phrase follows a list of specific persons or things, the general word or phrase will be interpreted to include only persons or things of the same type as those listed. ( For example, in the phrase horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, or any other barnyard animal, the general language or any other barnyard animal - despite its seeming breadth - would probably be held to include only four-legged, hoofed mammals (and thus would exclude chickens). - Also spelled eiusdem generis. -Also termed ejusdem generis rule; Lord Tenterden's rule. Cf. EXPRESSIO UNIUS EST EXCLUSIO ALTERIUS; NOSCITUR A SOCIIS; RULE OF RANK.