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backlog

noun

  1. academic publishing term; the phenomenon that a journal has a number of accepted papers waiting to be published for a significant time
L316632 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈbæk(ˌ)lɔɡ/ / /ˈbæk(ˌ)lɑɡ/ / /ˈbak(ˌ)lɔɡ/

noun

Etymology: From back + log. 1680s; originally a large log at the back of a fire. Figurative sense from 1880s, meaning "something stored up for later use". Possibly influenced by logbook as well.

  1. A large log to burn at the back of a fire.

    While she was preparing my breakfast, I chopped off a backlog and put it on the fire,[…]

    He threw it on the fire for a back-log, first scraping the live coals and ashes to a heap for his damper.

  2. A reserve source or supply.
  3. An accumulation or buildup, especially of unfilled orders, unconsumed products or unfinished work.

    He went to work on Saturday to try to work through the backlog of papers on his desk.

    Kyle purchased a new one despite having a backlog of video games that he hasn't played.

  4. A log containing text previously read, as in text-based video games or chat rooms.

verb

Etymology: From back + log. 1680s; originally a large log at the back of a fire. Figurative sense from 1880s, meaning "something stored up for later use". Possibly influenced by logbook as well.

  1. To acquire something as a backlog, or to become a backlog