log chip: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 - Extremely Rare/ArchaicTechnical/HISTORICAL
Quick answer
What does “log chip” mean?
A specific, archaic term from celestial navigation: a thin piece of wood, weighted at one end and attached to a line, thrown from a ship's stern to measure speed in knots.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific, archaic term from celestial navigation: a thin piece of wood, weighted at one end and attached to a line, thrown from a ship's stern to measure speed in knots.
The act of measuring a ship's speed using a log chip and line; the resulting measurement itself (as in 'to log chip a speed'). By metaphorical extension, any rudimentary or old-fashioned method of measuring progress or speed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in contemporary usage as it is archaic. Historically, the practice was identical in both British and American merchant and naval fleets.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of seamanship, tradition, and pre-technological navigation.
Frequency
Equally absent from modern speech in both varieties. Slightly more likely to appear in British historical fiction due to the prominence of Royal Navy historical narratives.
Grammar
How to Use “log chip” in a Sentence
[The sailor] + VERB (heaved/threw) + the log chip + [over the stern].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “log chip” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The midshipman was ordered to log chip the ship's speed every hour.
- They would log chip at the change of the watch.
American English
- The first mate logged chipped a steady seven knots.
- It was his duty to log chip throughout the night watch.
adjective
British English
- The log chip measurement was recorded in the book.
- He was skilled in log chip navigation.
American English
- They relied on log chip data for their dead reckoning.
- The log chip method was prone to error in heavy seas.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used exclusively in historical papers on navigation technology.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would be considered highly esoteric.
Technical
Used only in the context of explaining historical nautical practices or in maritime museum descriptions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “log chip”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “log chip”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “log chip”
- Using it as a modern term.
- Confusing it with a 'log' (a cut tree).
- Thinking 'chip' refers to a microchip.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a completely archaic term and tool, replaced by electronic logs, GPS, and other modern instruments.
Yes, historically one could 'log chip' or 'heave the log' to mean performing the act of measuring speed with the device.
They refer to the same device. 'Chip log' is perhaps the more formal technical term, while 'log chip' is a common inverted form.
You would only encounter it when reading historical fiction, nautical history, or visiting maritime museums. It is a word for specialized cultural or historical knowledge, not active vocabulary.
A specific, archaic term from celestial navigation: a thin piece of wood, weighted at one end and attached to a line, thrown from a ship's stern to measure speed in knots.
Log chip is usually technical/historical in register.
Log chip: in British English it is pronounced /lɒɡ tʃɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /lɔːɡ tʃɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"LOG" the speed, with a wood CHIP you heave from the ship.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEASUREMENT IS A PHYSICAL JOURNEY (the line pays out); PROGRESS IS SPEED THROUGH WATER.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'log chip' primarily used for?