backlog

English

Etymology

back +‎ log. 1680s; originally a large log at the back of a fire known as the Yule log. Traditionally, work was suspended for the duration of the Yule feast which ended when the Yule log was burned through. The tasks that built up over Yule were referred to as the backlog ; figurative sense from 1880s due to sense “a reserve, something built up”.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbæk.lɒɡ/, SAMPA: /"b{k.lQg/

Noun

backlog (plural backlogs)

1. An accumulation or buildup, especially of unfilled orders or unfinished work

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

2. A reserve source or supply

Translations

an accumulation or buildup

Chinese: Mandarin: simpl. 积压, simpl. 存货 Finnish: tilauskanta (fi) (orders), rästityöt (fi), (work) German: Arbeitsrückstand (de) m., Auftragsüberhang (de) m., Nachholbedarf (de) m., Rückstand (de) m., Rückstau (de) m., Überhang (de) m.

Norwegian: avfall (no) n. Polish: zaległość (pl) f. Swedish: återstod (sv) c. Turkish: birikme (tr), birikmiş iş (tr), terakküm (tr), artbirikim (tr)

a reserve source or supply

Chinese: Mandarin: simpl. 储备 Polish: zapas (pl) m.

Russian: запас (ru) (zapas) m.

Verb

backlog (third-person singular simple present backlogs, present participle backlogging, simple past and past participle backlogged)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To acquire something as a backlog, or to become a backlog

Translations

to acquire something as a backlog, or to become a backlog

Chinese: Mandarin: simpl. 积压

Polish: zalegać (pl)