log

log¹

noun

1》 a part of the trunk or a large branch of a tree that has fallen or been cut off.

2》 (also logbook) an official record of events during the voyage of a ship or aircraft.

3》 an apparatus for determining the speed of a ship, originally one consisting of a float attached to a knotted line.

verb (logs, logging, logged)

1》 enter (something) in a log.

    ↘achieve (a certain distance, speed, or time).

2》 (log in/on or off/out) go through the procedures to begin (or conclude) use of a computer system.

3》 cut down (an area of forest) to exploit the wood commercially.

Derivatives

logger noun

logging noun

Word History

Log is a Middle English word of obscure origin. The link between the original sense of the noun, 'a part of a tree that has fallen or been cut off', and the verb 'enter something in a log' is found in sense 3 of the noun, 'an apparatus for determining the speed of a ship'. This originally consisted of a 'log' or wooden float attached to a very long knotted line; the log was tossed overboard and the length of line run out in a certain time was used as an estimate of the vessel's speed. From here came the notion of a ship's journal or logbook, in which a detailed daily record of a voyage was entered, and so the verb developed. See also knot¹.

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log²

noun short for logarithm.