Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JOURNAL, n. Also †journey. That part of a shaft or axle which rests on the bearings. Orig. applied by Sc. engineers to an intermediate bearing part through which a twist may be exerted but now used indiscriminately by both Sc. and Eng. engineers in the more general sense (see 1869 quot.).Sc. 1814 R. Buchanan Shafts of Mills 24:
Journals, or journeys, are gudgeons subject to torsion.Sc. 1823 R. Buchanan Millwork 145:
In the case of the small pinion . . . a much greater stress would be thrown on the journeys (or journals) of the shaft.Sc. 1869 W. J. McRankine Machinery & Millwork III. iii. iii. § 460:
It was proposed by Buchanan . . . to apply the word gudgeon only to the bearing part at the end of a shaft or axle, which is exposed to bending action alone, and not to twisting action; and journal to an intermediate bearing part through which a twisting movement is or may be exerted; but the custom of using the word “journal” in both senses indiscriminately is so prevalent, that it is impracticable to carry out Buchanan's suggestion.Abd. 1877 W. Alexander Rural Life 156:
To fit up a machine of any sort where wheels and pinions and a “journal” on which they might run came into use was quite beyond him.Per. 1944 D. M. Forrester Logiealmond 161:
The bearing of this front end was just a piece of “bend leather” fitted upright into the frame and bored to take the journal of the spindle.