Log (?), n. [Heb. lōg.]
A Hebrew measure of liquids, containing 2.37 gills. W.
H. Ward.
Log (?), n. [Icel. lāg a
felled tree, log; akin to E. lie. See Lie to lie
prostrate.] 1. A bulky piece of wood which has
not been shaped by hewing or sawing.
2. [Prob. the same word as in sense 1; cf. LG.
log, lock, Dan. log, Sw. logg.]
(Naut.) An apparatus for measuring the rate of a ship's
motion through the water.
☞ The common log consists of the log-chip, or
logship, often exclusively called the log, and the
log line, the former being commonly a thin wooden quadrant of
five or six inches radius, loaded with lead on the arc to make it
float with the point up. It is attached to the log line by cords from
each corner. This line is divided into equal spaces, called
knots, each bearing the same proportion to a mile that half a
minute does to an hour. The line is wound on a reel which is so held
as to let it run off freely. When the log is thrown, the log-chip is
kept by the water from being drawn forward, and the speed of the ship
is shown by the number of knots run out in half a minute. There are
improved logs, consisting of a piece of mechanism which, being towed
astern, shows the distance actually gone through by the ship, by
means of the revolutions of a fly, which are registered on a dial
plate.
3. Hence: The record of the rate of ship's
speed or of her daily progress; also, the full nautical record of a
ship's cruise or voyage; a log slate; a log book.
4. A record and tabulated statement of the
work done by an engine, as of a steamship, of the coal consumed, and
of other items relating to the performance of machinery during a
given time.
5. (Mining) A weight or block near the
free end of a hoisting rope to prevent it from being drawn through
the sheave.
Log board (Naut.), a board consisting
of two parts shutting together like a book, with columns in which are
entered the direction of the wind, course of the ship, etc., during
each hour of the day and night. These entries are transferred to the
log book. A folding slate is now used instead. -- Log
book, or Logbook (Naut.), a
book in which is entered the daily progress of a ship at sea, as
indicated by the log, with notes on the weather and incidents of the
voyage; the contents of the log board. Log
cabin, Log house, a cabin or house
made of logs. -- Log canoe, a canoe made
by shaping and hollowing out a single log. -- Log
glass (Naut.), a small sandglass used to time
the running out of the log line. -- Log line
(Naut.), a line or cord about a hundred and fifty fathoms
long, fastened to the log-chip. See Note under 2d Log,
n., 2. -- Log perch
(Zoöl.), an ethiostomoid fish, or darter (Percina
caprodes); -- called also hogfish and
rockfish. -- Log reel (Naut.),
the reel on which the log line is wound. -- Log
slate. (Naut.) See Log board
(above). -- Rough log (Naut.), a
first draught of a record of the cruise or voyage. --
Smooth log (Naut.), a clean copy of the
rough log. In the case of naval vessels this copy is forwarded to the
proper officer of the government. -- To heave the
log (Naut.), to cast the log-chip into the
water; also, the whole process of ascertaining a vessel's speed by
the log.
Log, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Logged (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Logging (?).] (Naut.), To enter in a ship's log
book; as, to log the miles run. J. F. Cooper.
Log, v. i. 1. To
engage in the business of cutting or transporting logs for timber; to
get out logs. [U.S.]
2. To move to and fro; to rock.
[Obs.]