Definition of the word rule book

The term "rule book" originated in the late 19th century as a simplified and concise way to refer to a collection of written guidelines or instructions governing a particular activity or game. Before this period, sports and other forms of competition generally relied on unwritten codes of conduct and tradition derived from shared social norms. In the early 1800s, however, as sports and games began to develop more complex structures and rules, it became increasingly important to have a standardized document outlining the rules and procedures. The term "rule book" gained popularity in the latter half of the 19th century as associations and organizations dedicated to promoting specific sports began to develop official rulebooks to govern competitive play. The first known use of the phrase "rule book" in print appeared in December 1882 in an edition of the Chicago Daily News in an article discussing the recent establishment of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, which published the first official rulebook for baseball that year. Since then, "rule book" has become a common and widely recognized term used to describe a variety of documents, from sports manuals to legal codes and company policies, which communicate strict guidelines and procedures to be followed in particular situations or actions.