Red Tape
A Dictionary of Law · William C. Anderson · 1889
A Dictionary of Law
1.
Tape used for tying up documents. (1853); Hoover u Clark, 3 Murphey, 171 (1819): Coke, Litt. 154.
1 [2 Bl. Com. 367. » 2 Bl. Com. 27), 117. See Lyle v. Richards, 9 S. & E. 364 (1823); Martin v. Strachan, 5T. R. 108, n. (1793); 4 Kent, 487; 8 Mass. *34. » Russell V. Place, 94 U. S. 606 (1876), cases; Cromwell V. County of Sac, ib. 351 (1876), cases; Coleman v. Tennessee, 97 id. 525-40 (1878), cases; 101 id. 639. 4Haldeman v. United States, 91 U. S. 586 (1875), Davis, J. » Quantity of Distilled Spirits, 3 Bened. 73 (1868): Act 13 July, 1866, § 9: 14 St. L. 117; United States v. 3.
Extreme official formality.' Order carried to fastidious excess — system run out into trivial extremes.^