GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Loom: A wooden structure that holds the warp and weft threads for weaving the rug. It can be vertical or horizontal. The height and width of the loom determines the rug size.
Matting: The result of the untwisting of the yarn and intermingling of the yarn tips because of foot traffic.
Medallion: The large enclosed portion of a design, usually in the center. Typical shapes are diamonds, octagons, ovals and hexagons.
Nap: Top or body of the rug where the knot ends are cut.
Needlepoint: A flat weave, pileless rug woven using a stitch similar to a cross–stitch. Mainly produced in China, workers peer through the canvas to follow the design, which is spread out flat underneath it. Workers stitch directly onto the canvas.
Node: One loop of a pile knot around a warp as seen from the back of the rug.
Oriental Rug: A hand knotted piled or flat woven fabric made from natural fibers (most commonly wool or silk.)
Overcasting: A process by which selvedges are wrapped or interwoven with a yarn that is not part of the foundation weft.
Patina: The mellowing of the surface appearance of a rug usually with age or use. Can also be achieved with chemical washes.
Pattern: Foundation of the rug design.
Persian knot: See "Asymmetrical knot."
Pile: The nap of the rug, or the tufts remaining after the knotted yarns are clipped.
Plug: A piece of a rug sewn or woven into the hole of another rug.
Ply: Two or more yarns spun together.
Power loomed: Machine made rug.
Runners: Usually rugs measuring not more than 3 to 4 ft. wide and ranging from 8 to 20 ft. in length.
