rate of his ship; one of the sailors throws the log into the sea, and the reel begins to unwind. The length of line run off in half a minute shows the rate of the ship's motion per hour.
Log-roller (A). One engaged in log-rolling, that is (metaphorically) in furthering another's schemes or
fads; persons who laud a friend to promote the sale of his books, etc. The allusion is to neighbours who
assist a new settler to roll away the logs of his “clearing.”
“The members [of Congress] ... make a compact by which each aids the other. This is log-rolling.”- Bryce: Commonwealth, vol. ii. part iii. chap. lxvii. page 125 (1889).
Log-rolling The combination of different interests, on the principle of “Claw me, I'll claw you.” Applied to
mutual admiration criticism. One friend praises the literary work of another with the implied understanding
of receiving from him in return as much as he gives. The mutual admirers are called “log-rollers.”
In
the last decade of the nineteenth century, it was used politically to signify if A B will help C D to pass
their measures through the House, then C D will return the same favour to A B.
Of course, the term is
American. If you help me to make my clearance, I will help you to roll away the logs of yours.
Log-rolling Criticism The criticism of literary men who combine to praise each other's works in press or otherwise.
Logan or Rocking Stones, for which Cornwall is famous.
Pliny tells us of a rock near Harpasa which
might be moved with a finger.
Ptolemy says the Gygonian rock might be stirred with a stalk of asphodel.
Half
a mile from St. David's is a Logan stone, mounted on divers other stones, which may be shaken with
one finger.
At Golcar Hill (Yorkshire) is a rocking stone, which has lost its power from being hacked by
workmen who wanted to find out the secret of its rocking mystery.
In Pembrokeshire is a rocking stone,
rendered immovable by the soldiers of Cromwell, who held it to be an encouragement to superstition.
The
stone called Menamber in Sithney (Cornwall) was also rendered immovable by the soldiers, under the
same notion.
There are very many others.
Loggerheads Fall to loggerheads; to squabbling and fisticuffs.
Logget A sweetmeat, a toffy cut into small manchets, a little log of toffy. Common enough in Norfolk.
Logistilla (in Orlando Furioso). The good fairy, and sister of Alcina the sorceress. She teaches Ruggiero to manage the hippogriff, and gives Astolpho a magic book and horn. The impersonation of reason.