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 top.

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

Chain Stich:  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.

Field:  The pard 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 mesallion either octagonal or angular in shape, used in Turkoman designs.  It is often repeated to form and all-over patter in the field.

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.

Plain Weave:  The simplest interlacing of a warp and weft.

Warp: Parallel wrap yarns run the length of the rug and are interlaced with wefts.

Weft:  Yarns woven horizontally through the warps.