- record (v.)
- early 13c., "to get by heart," from Old French recorder "repeat, recite, report," from Latin recordari "remember, call to mind," from re- "restore" (see re-) + cor (genitive cordis) "heart" (as the metaphoric seat of memory, cf. learn by heart); see heart. Meaning "set down in writing" first attested c.1300; that of "put sound or pictures on disks, tape, etc." is from 1892. Related: Recorded; recording.
- record (n.)
- c.1300, "testimony committed to writing," from Old French record, from recorder "to record" (see record (v.)). Meaning "written account of some event" is from 1610s. Meaning "disk on which sounds or images have been recorded" is first attested 1878. That of "best achievement in sports, etc." is from 1883. Phrase on the record is from 1900; adverbial phrase off the record "confidentially" is attested from 1906.