Glossary of Useful Terms

Ancient (Anc)	Term used to describe the use of colours which simulate natural dyes in tartan, natural dyes were used before the mid 1700s
Apron	The front part of a kilt
Assymetrical	A tartan 'sett' which does not 'pivot' and reverse at given intervals
Badge	The Heraldic Crest of a clan chief - surrounded by a strap & buckle
Balmoral	Traditional Scottish Bonnet
Chain Strap	Metal & or leather strap which is attached to the sporran in order to wear it
Count	The number of threads in each colour band in tartan
Dirk	Large ceremonial dagger - usually finely decorated
District Tartan	A tartan that is associated to a district rather than a family or clan name
Dress Tartan	A variation of a tartan in which the 'ground' or other background colour has been changed to white
Family Tartan	A tartan associated to a family name - one which is not a recognised clan
Flashes	Small strips of tartan or woven material attached to a garter which is worn with the 'hose'
Ground	The dominant colour within a tartan design - the colour which would appear to be the background
Hose	A type of thick sock either knitted or woven worn with a kilt
Modern	Colour shades produced by chemical dyes (post 1860)
Old	Used to descibe a tartan sett which predates the one in common use
Pivot	The central colour band within a tartan design where the pattern reverses and repeats
Pleated to sett	Pleating a kilt so that the pattern on the rear matches the front
Pleated to stripe	Pleating a kilt so that the narrow stripe of the tartan is visible on each pleat - common on regimental kilts
Repeat	The 'sett' including its pivot and mirror image to form one complete pattern instance
Reproduction	Colours used to represent the fading of tartan dyes due to sunlight or weathering
Selvedge	The border at the edge of a woven tartan (usually a thicker thread) which prevents unravelling
Sept	A branch of a clan or a family who sought protection of a clan
Sett	The count of threads making up one tartan pattern from 'pivot' to 'pivot'
Sgian Dubh	Meaning 'dark knife' a small dagger traditionally worn in the 'hose' on a kilt outfit
Sporran	A purse made of leather, sealskin, badger or other animal fur
Waist Plate	Buckle
Warp	Length-wise threads on a loom
Web	Finished cloth - still on the loom
Weft	Cross wise threads on the loom