Page Title

Glossary

GLOSSARY OF RUG TERMS

Abrash: A change in the color of a rug due to differences in the wool or dye batch. The color change runs
                 across the rug and is most likely to occur at the top.

Boteh: A pear-shaped figure often used in oriental rug designs, characteristic of the paisley pattern. The
                boteh may represent a leaf, bush or a pinecone.

Chain Stitch: A crochet stitch used in rug construction that consists of successive loops to lock the final
                             weft in place at the end of the rug.

Dhurrie: A flatwoven rug from India, usually made of cotton or wool.

Endless Knot: A buddhist emblem symbolizing long duration, often used with other symbols.

Field: The part of a rug's design surrounded by the border. The field may be blank or contain medallions or
             an over-all pattern.

Fringe: Warps extending from the ends of a rug which are treated in several ways to prevent the wefts
                 and knots from unraveling.

Gul: A medallion either octagonal or angular in shape, used in Turkoman designs. It is often repeated to
           form an all-over pattern in the field.

Jufti Knot: A knot tied over four wraps instead of the usual two.

Kilim: A tapestry -like woven rug.

Medallion: The large enclosed portion of a design, usually in the center. Typical shapes are diamonds,
                         octagons, and hexagons.

Persian Knot: Looped around one thread with only a half-turn around the other thread.

Pile: The nap of the rug or the turfs remaining after knotted yarns are clipped.

Plain Weave: The simplest interlacing of warp and weft.

Prayer Rug: A rug with a representation of mosque or arched prayer area. Columns may be shown
                           supporting the arch with a lamp hanging from the arch's apex.

Soumak: A flatweave rug made from a technique that produces a herringbone effect.

Tapestry Weave: Any variety of weaves where the pattern is created by ground wefts that do not run
                                      from end to end.

Turkish Knot: Tied around two adjacent warp threads.

Warp: Comprising the structure, parallel wrap yarns run the lenght of the rug and are interlaced with wefts.

Weft: The yarns woven horizontally through the wraps.

Weft-Faced: A rug where the weft yarns are more closely spaced than the warps.

Here are a list of rug terms that are useful

when familiarizing yourself with rugs