record-book

The compound "record-book" is a transparent combination of two English words of distinct origins. "Record" entered English from Anglo-French, tracing back to the Latin 'recordari', meaning "to remember," itself from 're-' (again) and 'cor' (heart), metaphorically the seat of memory. "Book" has a native Germanic lineage, from Old English 'bōc', originally referring to a beechwood tablet used for writing. The compound's logic is straightforward: it denotes a physical "book" specifically designed for the purpose of keeping formal "records" or documented accounts, merging the concept of permanent documentation with its traditional medium.

Structure: record (to set down) + book (bound pages) record: From Latin 'recordari' (to remember, call to mind), via Anglo-French. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning a documented account. book: From Old English 'bōc' (a written document, book), of Germanic origin. It functions as the head noun, specifying the object's form.