ejusdem generis

English

From Latin ejusdem generis ("of the same kind").

(law) A canon of construction holding that when a general term follows a list of particular terms, the general term only applies to things similar to the particular terms. For example, in the list "sun, moon, and other large objects", the phrase "other large objects" only includes celestial bodies, not houses and elephants.
- 1663, Hudibras, by Samuel Butler, part 1, canto 1
  Or what relation has debating \ Of church-affairs with bear-baiting? \ A just comparison still is \ Of things ejusdem generis: \ And then what genus rightly doth \ Include, and comprehend them both?

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