TAFFRAIL LOG Meaning and
Definition
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Taffrail Log is a nautical instrument used to measure the speed of a ship. It consists of a rotatable mechanism that is attached to the taffrail, which is a rail located at the stern or aft end of a sailing ship or a steamship. The taffrail log is specifically designed to determine the speed of a vessel while it is in motion, and it does not require any specialized equipment or electricity to function.
The primary component of a taffrail log is a rotatable drum or reel, also known as the "log line reel." This drum contains a certain length of line or rope which is usually made of lightweight material. The line is marked at fixed intervals with knots or other indicators. The log line is deployed from the drum and allowed to trail astern the ship as it moves through the water. The amount of log line that is paid out over a specific time interval is used to calculate the ship's speed. This is typically done by counting the number of knots that pass out of the reel in a given duration.
Taffrail logs are considered reliable tools for measuring a ship's speed, especially in the absence of more advanced technologies such as GPS or sonar. They have been used by sailors for centuries and continue to be used today, albeit with modern variations and improvements.
Common Misspellings for TAFFRAIL LOG
- raffrail log
- faffrail log
- gaffrail log
- yaffrail log
- 6affrail log
- 5affrail log
- tzffrail log
- tsffrail log
- twffrail log
- tqffrail log
- tadfrail log
- tacfrail log
- tavfrail log
- tagfrail log
- tatfrail log
- tarfrail log
- tafdrail log
- tafcrail log
- tafvrail log
Etymology of TAFFRAIL LOG
The word "taffrail log" combines two terms: "taffrail" and "log".
1. Taffrail: The term "taffrail" refers to the rail or railing at the stern (rear) of a ship. It is typically a decorative or protective wooden rail that surrounds the stern deck. The word "taffrail" itself is derived from the nautical term "taf", which means the aft or stern portion of a vessel, and "rail", referring to the wooden structure.
2. Log: In a maritime context, a "log" traditionally means a piece of wood or a small float thrown overboard and connected to a line (log line). The log line was wound around a reel, called a "log reel". By counting the number of knots that passed through the sailor's hands over a specific time period, the ship's speed could be measured.
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