logjam
UK: ˈlɒɡdʒæm | US: ˈlɔːɡdʒæm
n. 1. A dense accumulation of logs blocking a river.
n. 2. A deadlock or stalemate in progress, especially in negotiations or decision-making.
The word "logjam" originated in 19th-century North America, combining "log" (from Old English logg, meaning a cut tree trunk) and "jam" (likely derived from the verb meaning to block or crush). It originally described literal jams of floating logs obstructing rivers during timber transport. By the early 20th century, it metaphorically extended to describe any obstructive deadlock, reflecting how physical logjams halt movement.
The river became impassable due to a massive logjam downstream.
Negotiations hit a logjam over budget disagreements.
Crews worked for days to clear the logjam blocking the waterway.
The project stalled in a bureaucratic logjam.
Environmentalists warn that logjams can disrupt aquatic ecosystems.