Hwat's the etymology of "log" meaning Journal?
Iain
Peter Duncanson (BrE)
wrote:
A log is a piece of wood. That is the origin of "log" meaning "journal".
It is nautical in origin.
A ship's log was a device for measuring the speed of a ship through the water.
The log was a "a thin quadrant of wood, loaded so as to float upright in the
water, and fastened to a line wound on a reel". It was dropped over the side
of the ship. It would float in a fixed position in relation to the sea while
the ship moved through the sea. The line was allowed to unreel. The length of
line that was unreeled in a particular time was a measure of the speed of the
ship through the water.
Measurements of the ship's speed were recorded in a "log-book". "Log-book"
was, and is, abbreviated to "log".
The meaning of log-book has been extended to a record of things other than a
ship's speed.
--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)
John Varela
(in article <vlhli45b57ue3egtf...@4ax.com>):
> The line was allowed to unreel. The length of
> line that was unreeled in a particular time was a measure of the speed of the
> ship through the water.
And the line was knotted at fixed intervals. The length of line paid
out was measured by counting the number of knots that went over the
rail. Hence "knot" as a measure of speed.
--
John Varela
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