Etymology From Middle English journal, from Anglo-Norman jurnal (“daily”), from Old French jornel (“day”) (whence modern French journal), from Latin diurnālis, from diurnus (“of the day”). Doublet of diurnal and the journal from French.
1
A diary or daily record of a person, organization, vessel etc.; daybook.
2
A newspaper or magazine dealing with a particular subject.
The university's biology department subscribes to half a dozen academic journals.
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences A chronological record of changes made to a database or other system; along with a backup or image copy that allows recovery after a failure or reinstatement to a previous time; a log.
Etymology From Middle English journal, from Anglo-Norman jurnal (“daily”), from Old French jornel (“day”) (whence modern French journal), from Latin diurnālis, from diurnus (“of the day”). Doublet of diurnal and the journal from French.
1
To archive or record something.
2
To scrapbook.
Coffee shops-cum-meeting-spots dotted across the city are teeming (Equator, Blue Bottle and Saint Frank). Caffeine-fuelled, lactose-intolerant, macadamia milk latte-drinking young folk are journalling, manifesting, coding, ChatGPT-ing and pitching their ideas.2023 February 5, Kathryn Parsons, “Boom times are back in San Francisco’s tech mecca”, in The Sunday Times, archived from the original on 25 Apr 2026:
journal
adj
Etymology From Middle English journal, from Anglo-Norman jurnal (“daily”), from Old French jornel (“day”) (whence modern French journal), from Latin diurnālis, from diurnus (“of the day”). Doublet of diurnal and the journal from French.
[…]his faint ſteedes watred in Ocean deepe, / Whiles from their iournall labours they did reſt[…].1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 163:
Etymology From French journal. Doublet of diurnal and the journal from Middle English.
1
The amount of land that can be worked in a day.
Yet the whole extent of cultured country, or all the fields actually cultivated for the ſupport of the inhabitants, will hardly exceed two millions of journaux (or day’s work); above three millions lie entirely waſte; and 850,000 journaux are covered with ſand.1781, “Dictionaire Historique et Géographique de la Province de Bretagne; dédié à la Nation Bretonne; par M. Ogée, Ingenieur-Géographe de cette Province. […]”, in The Critical Review: or, Annals of Literature, volume the fifty-first, London: […] A. Hamilton, […], “Foreign Articles”, pages 465–466:
The extent of these “Métairies” varies according to the number of the family of the métayer, and the nature of the soil, from 65 journaux (52 statute acres) to 30 journaux (24 acres), for the métayer generally endeavours to cultivate the land he holds, without the help of hired servants or labourers. Average land producing rye ought to be worth to the métayer 7 francs (5 s. 7 d.) per journaux (four-fifths of an acre); that producing wheat 25 francs (1 l.) per acre. The only land farmed is meadow land, situated in the lower part of Médoc, called “Bas Médoc,” and a part of the district of Blaye, which is let, at an average, 80 francs (3 l. 4 s.) the journaux (four-fifths of an acre).[…]The best wheat land gives 10 hectolitres per journaux, that is, three quarters and four-sevenths per four-fifths of an acre. The worst three hectolitres (1 quarter per four-fifths of an acre,) or one journal. Rye gives six hectolitres per journaux (2 quarters per four-fifths of an acre). Oats sometimes 25 hectolitres per journaux (8 quarters and 13-14ths, per four-fifths of an acre).1836, Report, Commonwealth Shipping Committee, page 46:
2 more examples
‘The surface of the downs, which form the landes of Bordeaux,’ says he, ‘being equal to 337,000 Bordeaux journaux, of 840 square toises, the amount required to fix the whole of these downs would be 8,000,000 livres. Now, a journal (0·33 hectares) of sand planted with pines, gives an annual return of 15 livres, that of 337,000 journaux would therefore be of 5,055,000 livres.1855, “Brick and Marble in the Middle Ages: Notes of a Tour in the North of Italy. By George Edmund Street, […].”, in The Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal, Incorporated with The Architect, volume XVIII, London: R. Groombridge and Sons, […], “Reviews”, page 343, column 2:
This estate consists of 33 hectares, 12 of which (i. e., about 43 journaux) are devoted to the vine.1899, Charles Cocks, Bordeaux and Its Wines Classed by Order of Merit, 3rd English edition, Feret & Fils, […]; Libraires Associes, […], translation of original by Edouard Feret […], page 704:
journal
verb
Etymology Unknown, apparently of Scots origin. Perhaps from chirnel, from English kernel (“lump in the flesh”), owing to resemblance in shape.
1
To insert (a shaft, an axle, etc.) into a journal bearing.
In a harvester binder having a hollow shaft journalled at right angles to the main axle and driving motion from the main driving wheel, a spindle journalled within the hollow shaft and having the needle attached to one of its ends[…]1883, The Canadian Magazine of Science and the Industrial Arts, Patent Office Record, page 244:
The cranks are placed upon posts, rafts, or boats in the stream, and journalled at the water-line, thus keeping one-half of the paddle-surface in action, while the common floating-wheel, or current-wheel, only keeps one[…]1884, John Michels, Science, page 606:
1 more example
The combination of two side frames or plates and outer sides and the intermediate frame, a water trough at the short an intermediate frame or plate, an axle journalled in one of said end of said roller and partly along the rear[…]1898, Canada. Patent Office, Canadian Patent Office Record, page 871:
journal
noun
Etymology Unknown, apparently of Scots origin. Perhaps from chirnel, from English kernel (“lump in the flesh”), owing to resemblance in shape.