log line
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A log line is a knotted cord attached to a reel, with a piece of wood (a log) at its end. It is a historical nautical tool used to measure a ship's speed through the water.
Usage
The term log line is used specifically in the context of traditional maritime navigation to describe the physical tool for measuring speed. * The sailor prepared the log line to determine the vessel's speed. * Before modern instruments, a log line and chip log were essential for navigation.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The log line was part of a device called a "chip log" or "common log." The wood (the "chip") was thrown overboard, and the line would pay out from the reel. Sailors counted the number of knots that passed in a set time (measured by a sandglass) to calculate speed in "knots."
- Figurative Use: In modern contexts, particularly in film and television, a log line has a completely different meaning: a one or two-sentence summary of a plot. This is a separate, homographic term and not related to the nautical definition.
Variants and Related Words
- Chip Log (n): The complete device consisting of the log, log line, and reel.
- Knot (n): A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, originating from the knots tied in the log line.
- Log (n): The piece of wood attached to the line. Also, the record book where the ship's speed and other data were recorded.
Synonyms
- Speed line (historical/nautical context)
- Log rope
Notes on Different Meanings
This entry defines the historical nautical tool. It is crucial to distinguish it from the modern creative writing term log line (a plot summary), which is a separate word with a different etymology and usage. The two are homographs (spelled the same) but not semantically related.
Noun
- a knotted cord that runs out from a reel to a piece of wood that is attached to it