Emily Dickinson Lexicon

JOUR'NAL, n. [jur'nal; Fr. journal; It. giornale, from giorno, a day; Corn. jurna; W. diurnod; L. diurnum. This was originally an adjective, signifying daily, as in Spenser and Shakspeare; but the adjective is obsolete.]

1. A diary; an account of daily transactions and events; or the book containing such account.
2. Among merchants, a book in which every particular article or charge is fairly entered from the waste book or blotter.
3. In navigation, a daily register of the ship's course and distance, the winds, weather, and other occurrences.
4. A paper published daily, or other newspaper; also, the title of a book or pamphlet published at stated times, containing an account of inventions, discoveries and improvements in arts and sciences; as, the Journal de Savans; the Journal of Science.