log
UK: lɒɡ | US: lɔːɡ
n. a part of the trunk or a large branch of a tree that has fallen or been cut off
n. an official record of events, especially on a ship or aircraft
vt. to enter or record in a log
The word log originates from Old English logg, meaning "a felled tree or piece of wood." Its meaning expanded metaphorically to include recorded entries (e.g., ship's log) because early records were often kept on wooden tablets or notched sticks. The semantic shift reflects the practical use of wood as a medium for documentation.
The hikers rested on a fallen log by the trail.
The captain updated the ship's log every evening.
Please log your hours in the system before Friday.
They used a log to bridge the small stream.
The software automatically logs all user activity.