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 a 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 sur-rounded 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 unravelling.
Gul
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 tufts remaining after the knot-ted 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
The vertical strands of yarn that comprise the structure of the rug. These strands rung the length of the rug and are interlaced with wefts to produce.
Weft
The yarns woven horizontally through the warp threads holding the knots tightly in place.
Weft-Faced
A rug where the weft yarns are more closely spaced than the warps.
