red book

plural red books · alternative red-book · alternative redbook

1. A book, often bound with a red cover, or online equivalent, that is an official, or canonical, collection of data, regulations, or writings.

   Some years ago I persuaded the L.C.C. to issue a red-book of comparative municipal statistics. Times 25 October 1920, 6/2, cited after OED

   1 more example

   All the chauntry preestis whos composicions are enrolled in the rede boke. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1479, ed. 1870, p. 419, cited after OED)

2. lifestyleA book supposedly belonging to the devil and containing the signatures of those in league with him.

   Richard believed this offer and so made a red mark with a stick in the man's little red book.

   2004, Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials, →ISBN, page 209

   3 more examples

   Her confession to Mr. Langley of Sarum, that she lived with D. Lamb and learnt the art of raising Spirits from him, which she also confessed to Edmond Bower to whom also she acknowledged her skill of curing diseases by Charms and Spels, that she could discover stollen goods, and shew any one the thief in a Glass; and being asked by him for the Red Book half wrote over with blood, being a Catalogue of those that had sealed to the Devil; she denyed not the knowlege of the book, but said that it was with one in Hampshire.

   1655, Thomas More, An Antidote Against Atheism, pages 205–206

   Some of them related their intimacy with the Devil, declared they had signed his little red book, been present at his sacraments, and rode with him on sticks through the air to attend his diabolical meetings.

   1840, “The Quakeress”, in Southern Literary Messenger, volume 6, page 830

   "Upon West Tenth Street," said the devil, quietly. "I find it flattering, sir, that you should have preserved a so accurate account of my past doings in that morocco-bound red book of yours," said Diego, somewhat startled, but still speaking equably.

   2003, James Branch Cabell, The Devil's Own Dear Son, →ISBN, page 181

1. The official technical standard for audio CDs.

   One company claimed to have the rights to putting hidden tracks in that position, but it's not permitted by the Red Book standard, and many plants will not press CDs with a hidden track in the pregap.

   2013, Russ Hepworth-Sawyer, editor, From Demo to Delivery, Taylor & Francis, →ISBN