What is "to heave the log"

Log \Log\, n. [Icel. l[=a]g 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.

   Note: 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 speed of a ship or airplane, and of the course of its progress for the duration of a voyage; also, the full nautical record of a ship's cruise or voyage; a log slate; a log book.

4. Hence, generally: A record and tabulated statement of the person(s) operating, operations performed, resources consumed, and the work done by any machine, device, or system.

5. (Mining) A weight or block near the free end of a hoisting rope to prevent it from being drawn through the sheave.

6. (computers) A record of activities performed within a program, or changes in a database or file on a computer, and typically kept as a file in the computer. 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.),

   1. 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.

   2. a book in which a log[4] is recorded.

      Log cabin, Log house, a cabin or house made of logs.

      Log canoe, a canoe made by shaping and hollowing out a single log; a dugout canoe.

      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 (Zo["o]l.), 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.

Heave \Heave\ (h[=e]v), v. t. [imp. Heaved (h[=e]vd), or Hove (h[=o]v); p. p. Heaved, Hove, formerly Hoven (h[=o]"v'n); p. pr. & vb. n. Heaving.] [OE. heven, hebben, AS. hebban; akin to OS. hebbian, D. heffen, OHG. heffan, hevan, G. heben, Icel. hefja, Sw. h[aum]fva, Dan. h[ae]ve, Goth. hafjan, L. capere to take, seize; cf. Gr. kw`ph handle. Cf. Accept, Behoof, Capacious, Forceps, Haft, Receipt.]

1. To cause to move upward or onward by a lifting effort; to lift; to raise; to hoist; -- often with up; as, the wave heaved the boat on land.

   One heaved ahigh, to be hurled down below.
   --Shak.

   Note: Heave, as now used, implies that the thing raised is heavy or hard to move; but formerly it was used in a less restricted sense.

   Here a little child I stand, Heaving up my either hand.
   --Herrick.

2. To throw; to cast; -- obsolete, provincial, or colloquial, except in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the lead; to heave the log.

3. To force from, or into, any position; to cause to move; also, to throw off; -- mostly used in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the ship ahead.

4. To raise or force from the breast; to utter with effort; as, to heave a sigh.

   The wretched animal heaved forth such groans.
   --Shak.

5. To cause to swell or rise, as the breast or bosom.

   The glittering, finny swarms That heave our friths, and crowd upon our shores.
   --Thomson.

   To heave a cable short (Naut.), to haul in cable till the ship is almost perpendicularly above the anchor.

   To heave a ship ahead (Naut.), to warp her ahead when not under sail, as by means of cables.

   To heave a ship down (Naut.), to throw or lay her down on one side; to careen her.

   To heave a ship to (Naut.), to bring the ship's head to the wind, and stop her motion.

   To heave about (Naut.), to put about suddenly.

   To heave in (Naut.), to shorten (cable).

   To heave in stays (Naut.), to put a vessel on the other tack.

   To heave out a sail (Naut.), to unfurl it.

   To heave taut (Naut.), to turn a capstan, etc., till the rope becomes strained. See Taut, and Tight.

   To heave the lead (Naut.), to take soundings with lead and line.

   To heave the log. (Naut.) See Log.

   To heave up anchor (Naut.), to raise it from the bottom of the sea or elsewhere.