Bushcraft Glossary: 220 Terms from A-Frame to Working End

#

30/30 rule: A thunderstorm rule: less than 30 seconds between flash and thunder means the storm is close enough to strike, and you wait 30 minutes after the last thunder. See thunderstorm warning signs. Skills
30° rule hang angle: The rule that a hammock suspension should leave the hammock at roughly 30° below horizontal on both sides, which keeps the load on straps and trees moderate. See how to hang a hammock. Shelter

A

A-frame: The basic tarp pitch: the tarp hangs over or under a ridgeline with both sides pegged down like a roof. It suits rain and light wind; see tarp setups compared and the Tarp Planner. Shelter
Aiming off: Deliberately steering a few degrees to one side of a target that lies on a linear feature such as a stream, so you know which way to turn on reaching it. See aiming off, handrails and attack points. Skills
Alcohol stove spirit burner: A simple, silent stove that burns liquid alcohol with a pale blue flame that is nearly invisible in sunlight. It is refilled only when cold; see alcohol, gas and solid fuel stoves. Cooking
Amadou: Felt-like tinder made from the soft inner layer of the tinder fungus, which is cut out, dried and worked soft. It catches the cool sparks of flint and steel; see tinder fungus and amadou. Fire
Attack point: An easy-to-find feature close to a small target, such as a path junction or stream bend. You navigate to it first and then take a short, precise bearing to the target; see attack points. Skills
Axe mask axe sheath: A snug cover, traditionally leather, that encloses the whole edge of an axe whenever the tool is not in use. See axe sheath and carrying safely. Tools
Axe wedge: A thin wedge driven into the slot sawn in the top of an axe handle, which spreads the wood inside the eye and locks the head. A dry hardwood wedge does the main work; a steel wedge, if used, goes in across it; see how to replace an axe handle. Tools

B

Backflushing: Cleaning a hollow-fibre filter by pushing clean water backwards through it, so trapped dirt leaves through the dirty-side inlet and the flow recovers. See filter maintenance. Water
Baffle draught collar, zip baffle: An insulated flap or tube in a sleeping bag, such as the zip baffle behind the zipper or the draught collar around the shoulders, that stops warm air escaping. See sleeping bag shapes. Gear
Bank line tarred bank line: Thin tarred twine of about 1.5–2 mm. It is grippy, holds knots very well and packs small, which makes it popular for lashings and repairs; see cord types compared. Gear
Banking a fire banked fire: Slowing a fire on purpose: the coals are gathered into a compact bed, thick hardwood is laid close and the edges are covered with a thin layer of ash, so it burns slower and keeps live coals longer. A banked fire is not out; see keeping a fire going all night. Fire
Bannock: A quick bread made without yeast or oven. Originally a flat bread from Scotland and northern England, today usually a baking-powder dough fried or baked in a pan; see what bannock is. Cooking
Base layer: The clothing layer worn next to the skin, of merino or synthetic fabric, whose job is to move sweat away from the body. See layering for winter camping. Gear
Base weight: The weight of everything in your pack except food, water and fuel. Typical values by season are in how heavy a bushcraft pack should be; the Kit Builder adds it up. Gear
Bast: The fibrous inner bark of trees such as lime, or the outer stem fibres of plants such as nettle, used for making cordage. See the best natural fibres. Skills
Baton: A club of dead, sound hardwood, about 40–50 cm long, used to drive a knife through wood. Rocks, hammers or other tools are never used instead; see how to make a baton. Tools
Batoning: Splitting wood by placing a knife blade on the end grain and driving it down with a wooden baton. It reaches the dry core of wet sticks but is hard on a knife; see what batoning is. Tools
Bear canister: An approved bear-resistant food container that many North American parks and forests require for overnight trips. Local regulations decide; see bear country. Cooking
Bearing: A direction expressed as an angle measured clockwise from north, where 90° is east and 180° is south. See how to take a bearing from the map. Skills
Bearing block handhold: The top piece of a bow drill set: hard wood, stone or bone with a small smooth socket that presses the spindle down with as little friction as possible. See the parts of a bow drill. Fire
Bevel: The ground surface that slopes down to the cutting edge. Its angle per side is the sharpening angle: lower cuts more easily, higher is more robust. See knife sharpening angle. Tools
Bight: A U-shaped fold in a rope that does not cross itself. Once its legs cross it becomes a loop; see knot terms explained. Skills
Billy can billy: A simple cylindrical pot with a wire bail handle, which lets it hang over a fire and be lifted with a stick. See the billy can. Cooking
Birch tar birch pitch: A black, sticky substance made by heating birch bark without air, used as glue since the Stone Age, for example to fix stone points to shafts. Making it is a workshop project for experienced makers, not a camp improvisation; see birch bark uses. Skills
Bivouac: Originally an improvised, often unplanned night in the open; today also a deliberately simple night outside with minimal kit and no tent. See what a bivouac is. Shelter
Bivvy bag bivy bag, bivi bag: A body-shaped waterproof-breathable shell that protects a sleeping bag from dew, wind and light rain and adds a little warmth. See when you need a bivvy bag. Gear
Blood circle safety circle: The space within reach of your outstretched arm plus blade, which must be clear of people and gear before you cut. See knife safety. Tools
Bortle scale: A scale that rates the darkness of the night sky from 1 (pristine) to 9 (inner city). The darker the class, the more faint stars and Milky Way you see; see stargazing while camping. Skills
Bow drill fire bow: Friction fire set of bow, spindle, hearth board and bearing block. Bowing spins the spindle until hot wood dust collects in a notch and glows as an ember; the full method is in the bow drill guide. Fire
Bowline: A knot that forms a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It does not slip and unties easily even after a heavy load; see loop knots. Skills
Brine: Cold salt water in which fish is soaked before smoking, typically 50–100 g of salt per litre for 1–4 hours in the cool box. Dry-salting is the alternative; see smoking fish over a campfire. Cooking
Burr wire edge: A thin lip of steel that forms along the edge when one side has been ground far enough on the stone. It is removed on the other side and by stropping; see sharpening in the field. Tools
Bushcraft: The practical knowledge of living in natural surroundings with minimal equipment: fire, shelter, water, food and tools. Unlike survival it is done by choice; see what bushcraft is. Skills

C

Camp zones: The separate areas of an organised camp for sleeping, fire, kitchen, water and latrine, which keep sparks, food smells and waste apart. See the five camp zones. Skills
Canteen: A military-style water bottle carried in a fabric cover together with a nesting metal cup that can go straight onto a fire or stove. See the classic military canteen. Water
Carbon monoxide CO: An odourless, colourless gas produced by any flame, which can build up in closed tents and snow shelters. Neutral background and vent rules are in ventilation in snow shelters and stove safety. Shelter
Catching feature backstop: A feature lying across your route just beyond the target, such as a road or river. Reaching it tells you that you have gone too far; see navigation techniques. Skills
Cathole cat hole: A small hole, 15–20 cm deep, dug for human waste at least 60 m from water, camp and paths and filled in afterwards. See toilet and hygiene outdoors and water, toilet and hygiene. Skills
Char cloth charcloth: Plant-fibre fabric, usually cotton, baked in a tin with almost no air until it is a thin black sheet of mostly carbon. A single weak spark makes it glow; see what char cloth is. Fire
Check-in time alarm time: The agreed time by which you send a message to your contact person; if it does not arrive, they follow the steps in your written trip plan. It is the core of solo camping safety. Skills
Chest-lever grip chest lever: A carving grip with both hands in front of the chest and the edge facing outward. The blade moves only a few centimetres, giving power with high control; see safe knife grips. Skills
Chlorine dioxide: A chemical water disinfectant sold as tablets or two-part drops. It acts against bacteria, viruses and Giardia and, slowly, against Cryptosporidium; follow the product label and see chlorine dioxide. Water
Chopping block: A stable, flat-topped round of wood on which firewood is split. It raises the work, protects the edge from soil and catches misses; see the chopping block. Tools
Closed-cell foam pad foam mat, CCF pad: A sleeping pad of dense foam that cannot puncture. It is cheap and bulky with a modest R-value and is often used under an air pad; see pad types compared. Gear
Clove hitch: A quick, adjustable hitch for tying a rope to a pole, branch or stake. It is the standard start and finish of many lashings; see hitches for trees and poles. Skills
Cold air pool cold sink, frost hollow: Cold, dense air that flows downhill on clear, calm nights and collects in valley bottoms and hollows, making them several degrees colder than the slope above. See cold air pooling. Shelter
Cold soaking cold soak: Rehydrating dried food in cold water without a stove, which takes about 1–2 hours for home-dried meals. The water must already be safe to drink; see dehydrating food for backpacking. Cooking
Comfort rating T-comf: The sleeping bag temperature at which a standard adult sleeping relaxed on their back feels comfortable, according to EN ISO 23537. It is the number to plan with; see temperature ratings explained. Gear
Contour line: A line on a map joining points of equal height. Lines close together mean steep ground, lines far apart gentle ground; see reading contour lines. Skills
Convex grind: An edge whose sides curve outward into the cutting edge instead of meeting as flat planes. It is robust and typical of axes; see sharpening flat and convex grinds. Tools
Cooking crane pot gallows: A pot hanger made of two forked uprights and a crossbar over the fire. It is more stable than a dingle stick and suits groups, two pots or a long evening; see pot hangers and cooking tripods. Cooking
Cordage: Any rope, cord or string. In bushcraft the word often means cord twisted by hand from plant fibres; see what natural cordage is. Skills
Cryptosporidium crypto: A waterborne protozoan parasite a few micrometres in size that resists chlorine and iodine. Microfilters remove it and boiling inactivates it; general background in what you are protecting yourself from. Water

D

Dakota fire hole Dakota hole: An underground fire with a draught: a fire pit plus a smaller air tunnel that feeds it from the windward side. It burns hot with little smoke and hides the flame from wind; see Dakota fire hole. Fire
Dark adaptation night vision: The slow adjustment of the eyes to darkness, which takes about 20–30 minutes before faint stars appear. Any white light resets it, while dim red light disturbs it far less; see stargazing while camping. Skills
Debris shelter debris hut, leaf hut: A small closed shelter of ridgepole, ribs and a thick shell of dead leaves or other debris. It is built tight around the body so that body heat alone warms it; see how a debris shelter works. Shelter
Declination magnetic variation: The angle between magnetic north, where the compass needle points, and true north. It depends on place and changes slowly over the years; see magnetic declination. Skills
Diagonal lashing: A lashing for two poles that cross but do not sit firmly against each other, with wraps running diagonally across the joint in both directions. See how to tie a diagonal lashing. Skills
Dingle stick: The simplest pot hanger: one long stick angled over the fire, resting on a fork, with the pot hanging from its tip. For one person and a light pot it is up in minutes; see pot hangers for the campfire. Cooking
Distillation: Boiling water, catching the steam and letting it condense somewhere clean. It is the only improvised method that separates water from salt; see improvised distillation. Water
Drip line: A short cord tied to a ridgeline or tarp corner so that water follows it and drips to the ground outside the shelter, or into a pot. See rain management and the drip line for collecting rain. Shelter
Dry bag roll-top bag: A waterproof bag with a roll-top closure that keeps a sleeping bag or clothing dry inside the pack. Not the same as a pack liner, which is one large bag for the whole main compartment; see dry bags and waterproof packing. Gear
Dutch oven camp oven: A thick-walled cast iron pot with a lid. The camp version has three short legs and a flat, rimmed lid that holds coals on top, which turns the pot into an oven; see what a Dutch oven is. Cooking
DWR durable water repellent: The durable water-repellent finish on the outer fabric of rain gear that makes rain bead up and roll off. It does not keep you dry by itself, but it keeps the jacket breathable, so it is washed and renewed; see rain gear for hiking. Gear

E

Eddy: A patch of slower or calm water behind a rock or other obstacle in a stream, often a good place to aim for after a fall. See crossing a stream safely. Water
Energy density: Kilocalories per gram of food as packed. It decides how much a day of food weighs; values for typical foods are in grams of food per day and the Trail Food Planner. Cooking
Everyman’s right allemansrätten, right of public access: The Nordic tradition of public access that usually allows a short stay on uncultivated land away from houses. Germany has no such right to camp; neutral overview in how Germany compares. Shelter

F

Fatwood lighter wood, fat lighter, pitch wood: Pine wood so saturated with natural resin that it lights when damp and burns with a hot, sooty flame. It is typically found in old stumps and at the base of dead branches; see what fatwood is. Fire
Feather stick fuzz stick: A piece of dry wood with a cluster of very thin shavings still attached at the base, which turns ordinary dead wood into tinder and kindling at once. Learn it in the feather stick guide. Fire
Ferro rod ferrocerium rod, fire steel: A bar of ferrocerium, a rare-earth alloy that throws very hot sparks when a hard, sharp edge shaves flakes off it. It works when wet but gives sparks, not a flame; see how a ferro rod works. Fire
Fire extender: Material that burns for a minute or longer and bridges the gap between a short tinder flame and damp kindling, for example fatwood splinters or birch bark. See fire extenders for wet weather. Fire
Fire lay: The way tinder, kindling and fuel are arranged before lighting. It decides how fast a fire catches, how much wood it uses and what it is good for; compare ten types in fire lays at a glance or use the Fire Lay Picker. Fire
Fire pan fire bowl: A metal tray or bowl raised slightly off the ground that keeps heat away from soil and vegetation and lets you remove every trace of ash. See fire rings, fire pans and mound fires. Fire
Fire plough fire plow: A friction fire method without a spindle: a blunt stick is pushed hard and fast along a groove in a soft, dry board until the dark dust at the end of the groove smoulders into an ember. Its cousin is the fire saw; see fire plough and fire saw. Fire
Fire triangle: The three things every fire needs at the same time: heat, fuel and oxygen. Take one away and the flame dies, which explains most failed fires; see the fire triangle. Fire
First aid kit: A compact, waterproof-packed set of dressings and tools for common outdoor injuries. It supports first aid skills but does not replace a course; see what goes in a first aid kit. Gear
First flush: The first run-off from a tarp at the start of rain, which carries dust, pollen and dirt. It is allowed to run away before a container is placed; see rinsing the tarp. Water
Five W’s 5 W’s: A memory aid for choosing a camp site: wind, water, wood, widowmakers and wildlife. All five are checked before committing to a spot; see the 5 W’s of site selection. Shelter
Flat grind: A blade that tapers flat from the spine towards the edge and ends in a small secondary bevel. It slices well; grinds are compared in knife grinds explained. Tools
Flint and steel strike-a-light: Traditional spark ignition in which a sharp, hard stone shaves glowing particles off a high-carbon steel striker. The sparks are comparatively cool and need char cloth or tinder fungus to catch; see how flint and steel works. Fire
Focal point focal length: The point behind a lens where the bent sunlight meets in the smallest, hottest dot; the distance from the lens to it is the focal length. Holding that dot still on dark tinder is the whole trick of starting a fire with a magnifying glass. Fire
Foil packet: Food wrapped tightly in heavy-duty or doubled aluminium foil and laid on embers, where it cooks in its own steam. See foil packet recipes. Cooking
Folding saw: A pocket-sized saw whose blade folds into the handle. It weighs 150–400 g and handles pegs, poles and small firewood; see choosing a folding saw. Tools
Ford: A spot where a stream is crossed on foot by wading. A good ford is wide, shallow and straight, and you cross facing upstream, shuffling sideways with a pole as a third leg; see crossing a stream. Water
Frapping turns fraps: Turns of cord that pass between two poles, around the wraps of a lashing, and pull it tight. See lashings in the knot guide. Skills
Fresnel lens Fresnel card: A flat lens with its curvature cut into thin concentric rings, often sold as a plastic card. It focuses sunlight like a magnifying glass but bends easily, so it is held flat by the edges; see fire with a magnifying glass. Fire
Frostbite: A cold injury in which skin and deeper tissue freeze; its reversible early stage is called frostnip. General information, not medical advice, is in frostbite and hypothermia. Shelter
Fuel ladder fire ladder: The step-by-step increase in wood size from tinder through kindling to fuel, each stage roughly two to three times thicker than the last: hair, matchstick, pencil, thumb, wrist. See the fire ladder. Fire

G

Gaiters hiking gaiters: Covers that close the gap between trousers and boots and keep water, wet grass, mud, stones and snow out of the boot top. They also protect trousers from thorns; see rain gear and winter hiking. Gear
Game trail: A path worn by wild animals moving between water, cover and feeding areas. Camps are kept off such trails; see wildlife encounters and wildlife in site selection. Skills
Giardia: A waterborne protozoan parasite whose cysts measure roughly 8–12 µm and are therefore stopped by 0.1–0.2 µm filters. Sizes of other organisms are compared in pore sizes. Water
Grey water gray water: Used washing-up water with food traces and a little soap. It is strained and scattered widely over soil, at least 60 m from lakes and streams; see washing dishes at camp. Water
Grit: A number describing how coarse the abrasive particles of a sharpening stone are. Lower numbers cut faster, higher numbers polish; see stones and grits explained. Tools
Ground current: Lightning current that spreads through the ground for metres around the strike point and through the legs of anyone standing or lying within reach. Feet together reduce it; see lightning safety. Skills
Ground-to-air signals: Large, high-contrast symbols laid out on open ground for aircraft, such as V for assistance required and X for medical assistance required. See ground-to-air signals. Skills
Guyline guy line: A cord that runs from a tarp or tent tie-out to a stake or other anchor and holds the fabric taut. Adjustable knots for it are listed in which knots for a tarp. Shelter

H

Hand test: A rule of thumb for judging fire heat: hold an open palm at cooking height above the coals and count the seconds until it becomes uncomfortable. See the hand test explained. Cooking
Handrail: A long feature that leads roughly in your direction of travel, such as a path, stream, forest edge or power line. Following it needs little compass work; see handrails. Skills
Hardwood: Wood from broadleaved trees such as oak, beech, birch or ash. It burns down to long-lasting coals; see tree identification and wood types and which wood gives the best coals. Skills
Hearth board fireboard: The flat board of a bow drill set, with a burned-in socket for the spindle and a notch in which the hot dust collects and the ember forms. See burning in the socket and cutting the notch. Fire
Heat exhaustion: The warning stage of heat illness, with heavy sweating, pale clammy skin, headache, dizziness and nausea while the person stays clear-headed. Stop, rest in shade, cool the skin and sip water; see hiking in hot weather. Skills
Heat stroke: A life-threatening heat emergency with very hot skin, confusion or collapse. Call 112 and cool the person immediately and continuously; see heat exhaustion vs heat stroke. Skills
Heat zones: Coals raked unevenly into a hot, a medium and a warm area so that food can be seared, cooked through and kept warm on one fire. See setting up heat zones. Cooking
Heel lock lace lock, surgeon’s lock: A lacing technique that holds the heel in the heel cup and stops the foot sliding forward downhill, which protects toes and reduces heel blisters. See lacing techniques. Gear
Hobo stove twig stove: A small wood-burning stove, classically made from a tin can, that works like a short chimney: air drawn in at the base feeds the embers under the pot. See how a hobo stove works. Cooking
Hollow-fibre filter hollow fiber filter: A water filter made of bundles of thin plastic tubes with microscopic pores in their walls. It removes protozoa and bacteria but not viruses or dissolved substances; see filter types compared. Water
Hook knife spoon knife: A carving knife with a curved blade for scooping out hollows such as the bowl of a spoon. Most are sharpened for either right or left hand; see the hook knife. Tools
Hot smoking: Cooking food in smoke at roughly 80–120 °C until the thickest part of fish reaches 63 °C, so it is fully cooked. Cold smoking below about 30 °C leaves food raw and does not belong at camp; see smoking fish over a campfire. Cooking
Hot tent: A tent designed for a wood stove, with a stove jack, fabric suited to sparks and heat, vents and room for safe distances. A stove, grill or embers never go into a normal tent; see hot tent camping. Shelter
Hydrostatic head water column: The waterproofness of a fabric, given as the height in millimetres of a water column it resists before water passes through. Values for tarps are in how waterproof a tarp needs to be. Gear
Hypothermia: A drop in the body’s core temperature caused by cold, wet and wind, possible even well above freezing. For signs and what to do, see hypothermia and cold injuries and the first aid guide. Skills

K

Kerf: The slot a saw blade leaves in the wood. A hand-saw kerf is narrow and a chainsaw kerf wide, which matters when cutting a Swedish torch; cutting technique is in how to use a saw. Tools
Keyhole fire: A fire site shaped like a keyhole: the main fire burns in a round area, and coals are raked into a narrow slot where a pot or grill sits. See keyhole fire. Fire
Kindling: Small dry sticks from matchstick to thumb thickness that carry the flame from tinder to larger fuel. Splitting it from thicker wood is shown in splitting kindling; the Firewood Calculator estimates how much to gather. Fire
Kohte: A black canvas cone tent from the German youth movement of the late 1920s, made of panels that are buttoned together so each member of a group carries one. Its name comes from the Finnish kota; see tipi, lavvu and Kohte. Shelter

L

Lashing: A binding of wraps and frapping turns that joins pole to pole, whereas a knot joins rope to rope or rope to an object. See what a lashing is. Skills
Lavvu lavvo: The Sami tent of northern Scandinavia: a cone tent, usually lower and broader than a tipi, which makes it steady in strong wind, with a smoke opening at the top. See tipi and lavvu. Shelter
Layering system: Dressing in several thin layers, namely base layer, mid layer, insulation and shell, that are added or removed as activity and weather change. See the layering system. Gear
Lean-to: A single sloping roof, high and open at the front and low and closed at the back, pitched with a tarp or built from poles and thatch. See what a lean-to is. Shelter
Lean-to fire: A fire lay for wind: kindling is leaned over the tinder against a thick log or an angled green stick, so the flame is sheltered on the windward side. See teepee and lean-to fire. Fire
Leave No Trace LNT: A set of seven principles for minimal impact outdoors, from planning ahead to respecting wildlife and other visitors. See Leave No Trace, bushcraft edition. Skills
Lee lee side, leeward: The side of a hill, bank, tree line or tent that faces away from the wind and is sheltered by it. You camp in the lee of terrain and turn doors and vents to the lee side; see camping in wind. Shelter
Limit rating T-lim: The sleeping bag temperature at which a standard adult curled up sleeps about eight hours without waking from cold, according to EN ISO 23537: a cold night, not a good one. See how warm a bag you need. Gear
Loft: The thickness to which an insulation such as down or synthetic fill puffs up. Only lofted insulation traps warm air, so compressed or damp fill insulates poorly; see how to sleep warm. Gear
Log cabin fire: A fire lay of sticks stacked in alternating pairs like cabin walls around a small teepee. It burns evenly and collapses into a flat bed of coals, which suits campfire cooking. Fire
Long fire hunter’s fire: A fire built along the length of a sleeping area to warm the whole body: two long logs lie parallel and the fire burns in the channel between them. See star fire and long fire. Fire

M

Mallet bushcraft mallet: A one-piece wooden club with a thick head and a carved handle, made from a sound hardwood log. It drives tent pegs, taps chisels and gouges and opens rounds with wooden wedges; see how to carve a mallet. Tools
Microadventure: A short, simple outdoor trip close to home, typically a single night out with little equipment. See your first night out and the first overnight step by step. Skills
Microspikes traction devices, chain spikes: Rubber harnesses with short spikes and chains that fit almost any walking boot, made for icy forest tracks, hard-packed winter paths and gentle slopes. Crampons, with long rigid points, are mountaineering equipment; see winter hiking in snow. Gear
Mound fire: A Leave No Trace fire built on a 15–20 cm thick mound of mineral soil or sand laid on a groundsheet or flat rock, so the ground below is not scarred. See fires without a footprint. Fire

N

Naismith’s rule: A baseline for walking time: one hour per 5 km plus one hour per 600 m of ascent. See measuring distance or let the Hiking Time Calculator do the sum. Skills

P

Pace count: The number of double steps you take per 100 m, usually about 60–70 on flat ground, used to measure distance walked. Calibrate it with the Pace Count Calculator. Skills
Paracord parachute cord, 550 cord: Nylon kernmantle cord about 4 mm thick with removable inner strands. It is versatile but stretches when wet; see paracord and cordage kit and paracord vs natural cordage. Gear
Parang: A short, thick machete with a convex edge that copes with woody stems and light wood processing as well as green growth. See parang vs machete. Tools
Patina: A thin, dark, tightly bonded oxide layer that forms slowly on carbon steel and slows further corrosion. Unlike rust it is smooth and does not rub off; see patina vs rust. Tools
Platform fire: A base of wrist-thick dead sticks laid tightly side by side that lifts a fire above snow, bog or soaked ground. Any fire lay can be built on top; see platform fire. Fire
PLB personal locator beacon: A small device that sends only a distress signal with your position to rescue services by satellite, where there is no mobile signal. A satellite messenger can usually also send check-in messages; see solo camping safety. Gear
Plow point plough point: An asymmetrical one-person tarp pitch for wind from one side, with the tarp hung along its diagonal from a high point down to the ground. Tarp sizes that allow it are listed in what size tarp. Shelter
Polaris North Star, pole star: The star that stays put above true north while every other star turns around it. It is only moderately bright and is found by following the two pointer stars of the Plough; see how to find the North Star. Skills
Pore size: The size of the openings in a filter element, given in micrometres. An absolute rating means no pore is larger than stated; a nominal rating does not. See how a water filter works. Water
Possibles bag possibles pouch: The shoulder-bag version of a belt kit: one bag with fire kit, cup, first aid and small tools, worn across the body or hung on a branch at camp. See bushcraft belt kit. Gear
Pot hanger: A hook or adjustable notched stick from which a pot hangs under a tripod or crane, so the heat is controlled by raising or lowering the pot. See camp tripod and pot hanger. Cooking
Pre-filter prefiltering: Removing coarse dirt before the real treatment by letting water settle or pouring it through cloth. It keeps filters from clogging and helps UV and chemicals work; see prefiltering. Water
Prusik prusik knot: A friction hitch made with a closed loop of thinner cord around a thicker line. It grips under load and slides when unloaded; see the prusik knot. Skills
Punk wood punkwood: Dead wood that fungi have broken down until it is soft, light and spongy. Dried and charred like cloth it takes a spark readily and smoulders for a long time; see natural alternatives to char cloth. Fire
Purifier: A water treatment device that also removes or inactivates viruses, unlike a standard microfilter, for example an ultrafilter or a filter-plus-chemical system. See filters and purifiers. Water

Q

Quinzhee quinzee: A snow shelter made by piling loose snow into a mound, letting it settle and bond, and then hollowing it out. It works where snow is too shallow for a cave; see how to build a quinzhee. Shelter

R

R-value: A measure of the thermal resistance of a sleeping pad: higher is warmer, and the values of stacked pads add up. See R-value explained and the Sleep System Calculator. Gear
Red light: A headlamp mode that affects the eye’s dark adaptation far less than white light, so night vision is largely kept during camp chores. See red light and night vision. Gear
Reflector wall fire reflector: A low wall of stacked dead logs or rocks on the far side of a fire that throws radiant heat back towards a shelter. See reflector walls and the lean-to fire. Shelter
Reverse wrap: The hand method for making two-ply cord: each strand is twisted one way and the two are wrapped around each other the opposite way, which locks them. See the reverse wrap twist. Skills
Ridgeline: A cord stretched tight between two trees that carries a tarp, sets the height of the shelter and keeps the fabric taut. Rigging methods are in ridgeline systems. Shelter
Rolling boil: Boiling with big bubbles rising and breaking continuously across the whole surface, which stirring does not stop. It is the starting point for timing; see how to recognise a rolling boil and the Boiling Point Calculator. Water
Rule of threes: A rough memory aid for priorities: about three minutes without air, three hours without shelter in harsh conditions, three days without water, three weeks without food. See priorities outdoors. Skills
Run-out grain run-out: Wood grain whose fibres leave the surface of a handle at an angle instead of running end to end. Each such spot is a potential crack line, so run-out near the head rules a handle out; see choosing an axe handle. Tools

S

Scandi grind Scandinavian grind: A knife grind with one wide, flat bevel on each side running straight to the edge, without a secondary bevel. The bevel lies flat on wood and stone; see sharpening a Scandi grind. Tools
Scat droppings: Animal droppings. Shape, contents and where they are left often identify a species more easily than a footprint; see other signs. Skills
Seasoning: A thin layer of oil baked onto cast iron until it hardens into a dark, slick coating that protects against rust and makes the surface non-stick. See how to season a Dutch oven. Cooking
Section 42a WaffG § 42a WaffG: The provision of the German Weapons Act that restricts carrying certain knives in public. A neutral overview, not legal advice, is in knife laws for bushcraft and carrying a bushcraft knife. Tools
Sediment filter DIY water filter: An improvised filter of cloth, sand and charcoal layers that traps particles and clears cloudy water. It does not remove microorganisms reliably, so treatment follows; see what a DIY filter does. Water
Seed water: A few centimetres of liquid water put in the pot before adding snow. It spreads the heat so the snow melts quickly and the pot does not scorch; see why seed water matters. Water
Shadow stick: A way to find direction from the sun: mark the tip of a stick’s shadow, wait 15–20 minutes and mark it again. The line between the marks runs roughly west to east; see the shadow stick method. Skills
Shear lashing: A lashing that joins two poles lying side by side. Spreading the free ends turns them into shear legs, an A-frame; see shear lashing and round lashing. Skills
Side flash: Lightning current that jumps from a struck tree, pole or other object to a person standing next to it. It is why sheltering under a lone tree is dangerous; see lightning safety when camping. Skills
Signal mirror: A small mirror, often with a sighting hole, used to aim a flash of sunlight at aircraft or distant searchers. See aiming the flash. Skills
Sleeping bag liner liner: A thin inner bag you sleep in that catches most of the sweat, skin oils and dirt before they reach the sleeping bag. It is washed after every trip like a bed sheet; see sleeping bag care. Gear
Sloyd knife slöjd knife: A carving knife from the Scandinavian school woodwork tradition, with a narrow, straight blade of about 5–8 cm and a plain oval handle. See the sloyd knife. Tools
Slurry: The grey paste of loose abrasive and water that forms on a water stone during sharpening. It keeps cutting, so it is left on the stone while you work; see how to use a whetstone. Tools
SODIS solar water disinfection: An emergency method in which clear water in a clear PET bottle is laid in full sun so that UV-A radiation and warmth act on it for hours. Conditions and limits are in SODIS. Water
Solar still: A pit covered with plastic sheet in which evaporated moisture condenses and drips into a container. In temperate climates it yields very little; see transpiration bags and solar stills. Water
Spark arrestor spark arrester: A fine mesh cap on top of a stove pipe that keeps glowing particles from landing on the tent roof or in dry vegetation. See hot tent camping. Shelter
Spindle drill: The straight rod of a bow drill set that spins: its lower end grinds into the hearth board, its top turns in the bearing block. Dimensions are given in how to make a bow drill. Fire
Spit: A green stick or rod on which food is skewered and turned beside the coals, usually resting on two forked uprights. See how to build a campfire spit. Cooking
Square lashing: The lashing for two poles that cross and touch, usually at about a right angle. It is the one used most for crossbars, rungs and table tops; see how to tie a square lashing. Skills
Stake peg, tent peg: A pin driven into the ground to anchor a guyline, usually at about 45° leaning away from the tarp. Types and home-made versions are covered in cord, stakes and poles. Shelter
Standing dead wood: Dead branches or small trees that are still upright or attached and therefore off the wet ground. It is usually the driest firewood available; see dry, dead or standing dead. Fire
Standing part standing end: The long, inactive part of a rope, which usually takes the load. Its counterpart is the working end; see the Knot Finder for knots by job. Skills
Star fire spoke fire: A fire lay of five or six long logs pointing to the centre like wheel spokes, with only their tips burning. Pushing the logs in controls the heat and it uses very little wood; see burn times of fire lays. Fire
Stop cut: A cut across the grain that marks where a shaving or split must end. Sawn at the neck of a spoon it stops chips running into the bowl; see stop cuts and roughing out. Skills
STOP rule: A memory aid for the first minutes of an emergency: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan. It prevents hasty decisions; see the STOP rule. Skills
Stop, stay, whistle: A rule for children who are lost: stop, stay put, blow three times on the whistle and wait. Three blasts are widely understood as a call for help; see safety rules children can remember. Skills
Stove jack: A fire-resistant ring in the wall or roof of a hot tent through which the stove pipe leaves the tent. Only a pipe that fits the jack is used; see hot tent camping. Shelter
Strainer sweeper: A fallen tree or other obstacle in moving water that lets the water flow through but holds anything larger, including a person. It is one of the most dangerous spots in a stream; see crossing a stream. Water
Strop: A strip of leather, or wood, felt or cardboard, on which the edge is drawn spine-first to polish it and remove the last traces of the burr. See strops and compound. Tools
Swedish torch Swedish fire log, log candle: A fire built inside an upright log that is cut or split lengthwise into segments. It burns from the inside and its flat top works as a small stove; see what a Swedish torch is. Fire

T

Tang: The part of a knife blade that continues into the handle. A full tang runs the whole length and width of the handle and is the strongest type; see full, hidden or stick tang. Tools
Tarp tarpaulin, basha: A flat waterproof sheet with tie-outs that is pitched with cord and stakes as an open shelter. Sizes, fabrics and features are compared in choosing a tarp. Gear
Taut-line hitch: An adjustable hitch tied on a guyline so that the line can be retensioned in seconds without untying. See pitching a tarp. Skills
Teepee fire tipi fire, cone fire: The most common starting lay: kindling leans together in a cone around the tinder, so heat rising through the centre makes the fire grow quickly. See basic fire lays for fire starting. Fire
Ten C’s 10 C’s of survival: A memory aid for core kit: cutting tool, combustion, cover, container, cordage, cotton bandana, candle or light, compass, cargo tape and canvas needle. See the 10 C’s. Gear
Three-bowl system three-bowl washing line: A washing-up line for group camps: bowl 1 to wash with hot water and a drop of soap, bowl 2 to rinse, bowl 3 with very hot water to dip kit with tongs or a mesh bag. See washing dishes camping. Water
Tick check: A daily look over clothes and the whole body for ticks, done every evening after time in vegetation. See the daily tick check. Skills
Tie-out: A reinforced loop on the edge, ridge or panel of a tarp to which guylines are attached. Their number and position decide which pitches are possible; see tie-outs and attachment points. Gear
Tinder: Fine, dry material that catches a spark, ember or small flame and burns long enough to light thin kindling. Natural examples and how to prepare them are in best natural tinder. Fire
Tinder bundle bird’s nest: A hand-sized nest of coarse, fine and finest tinder with a pocket in the middle. It is the standard shape for blowing an ember into flame; see how to build a tinder bundle. Fire
TPI teeth per inch: The number of saw teeth per inch (2.54 cm). Fewer, larger teeth cut fast and clear wet sawdust; more, smaller teeth cut smoothly in hard, dry wood. See TPI and tooth pattern. Tools
Trekking site Trekkingplatz: In Germany, a small, simple, bookable pitch in the forest for a few tents, reached on foot and usually without water or electricity. See legal alternatives to wild camping. Shelter
Trench foot immersion foot: A non-freezing cold injury that develops when feet stay wet and cool for many hours or days. General information and prevention are in cold, wet feet. Gear
Triangulation resection: Fixing your position by taking compass bearings to two or three known landmarks and drawing the back bearings on the map; you are where the lines cross. See finding your position. Skills
Trip plan route card: A note left with a contact person stating your route, parking place and the time at which they should raise the alarm. See the trip plan. Skills
Tripod lashing: A lashing that binds three poles so that they can be spread into a free-standing tripod, for example for hanging a pot. See how to tie a tripod lashing. Skills
Try stick: A straight green stick on which every basic carving cut and notch is practised in a row. See the try stick. Skills
Turnaround time: A fixed time you set before the trip at which you turn back, wherever you are. It stops a chain of small problems before dark; see solo camping safety. Skills
Twist bread stick bread, Stockbrot: Bread dough wound around a stick and baked over embers, the European campfire relative of bannock. See campfire bread on a stick. Cooking

U

Underquilt: An insulated quilt that hangs on the outside underneath a hammock, where body weight cannot compress its loft. See underquilts and insulation. Shelter
Upside-down fire top-down fire, pyramid fire: A fire lay with the thickest logs at the bottom, thinner layers crossed above and tinder on top. It is lit from the top and burns downward; see log cabin and upside-down fire. Fire
UV purifier UV pen: A battery-powered device whose UV-C light damages the genetic material of microorganisms so they cannot multiply. It only works in clear water; see UV purifiers. Water

V

Vapour barrier liner VBL: A non-breathable liner used inside a sleeping bag on cold multi-day trips so that body moisture cannot collect in the insulation. Mentioned in bivouacking in cold weather. Gear

W

Watt-hour Wh: The unit of energy that matters for power banks: Wh = mAh × volts ÷ 1,000. Plan with roughly 60–70 % of the printed capacity; see power on the trail and the power bank calculator. Gear
Whetstone sharpening stone: A flat abrasive stone on which a blade is ground to restore its edge. A small pocket version is enough on a trip; see a small field sharpening kit. Tools
Whipping: A tight binding of thin thread around the end of a rope that stops it fraying. It is used on natural fibre rope and on cords that do not melt well; see rope care. Skills
Whiteout: Conditions in which snow and cloud merge into one grey-white surface, so the horizon disappears and you can no longer judge slopes or distances. Slow down, stay together and navigate by bearing; see winter hiking. Skills
Widowmaker: Any dead or detached branch, or unstable tree, that can fall without warning. Nothing dead or unstable should be within falling distance of camp; see how to spot dangerous trees. Shelter
Wild camping: Spending the night outdoors away from official campsites. Whether it is allowed depends on country, region and land type; for Germany see the neutral overview in wild camping in Germany. Shelter
Wind chill: The feels-like temperature on exposed skin when wind strips away the thin layer of warm air around the body. See wind chill and the Wind Chill Calculator. Gear
Withy withe: A thin, fresh shoot of willow or hazel, twisted along its length until the fibres loosen and it becomes flexible enough to bind poles. See natural cordage and withies. Skills
Wood-gas stove gasifier stove: A double-walled twig stove that also burns the smoke gases given off by the wood, so it runs cleaner than a simple hobo stove. Types are compared in camp stove types. Cooking
Working end running end: The end of the rope that you move to tie a knot, as opposed to the standing part. See knot vocabulary. Skills