Back Line: Marked line at the back of the house. When a stone crosses the back line, it is out of play.
Blank End: A round of play in which no points are scored.
Bonspiel: A curling tournament.
Button: A one-foot circle situated in the centre of the scoring area known as the house.
Centre line: Painted line running down the middle of the ice from hack to hack.
Clean: Term to describe a light sweeping in front of the stone to control movement.
Double: A takeout shot which clears two of the opposition's stones from the house.
Draw: A stone thrown with a precise weight so that it glides and ultimately rests in the house.
End: A round of the match in which eight stones are thrown by each team in the same direction. Ten ends normally constitute a game. An extra end is played if the game is tied after 10 ends.
Freeze: A stone strategically thrown and played so that it glides towards and rests up against another rock.
Guard: A stone played and positioned to protect another stone.
Hack: A metal or wooden plate affixed to, or sunken down into, the ice at each end.
Hammer: The last rock shot in an end.
Heavy ice: Term used to describe ice that allows slow movement.
Hit: A shot which moves the opposing team's stone, ideally out of play.
Hog: A stone that doesn't reach the hog line and is therefore taken out of play.
Hog line: A line of play situated 6.41 metres from the tee. A sheet is marked by two hog lines, one at each end. Stones must cross the far hog line to remain in play. Curlers must release their stones before it touches the near hog line.
House: Scoring area marked by a set of four concentric circles at each end of the rink.
Hurry: An order from the skip to the other players to forcefully sweep the ice.
Keen ice: Term to describe ice that allows for fast movement.
Lead: A player who throws stones first in an end for a team.
Port: Term to describe a gap between two resting stones through which another stone may pass.
Raise: To bump an already lying stone further ahead, usually into the house.
Rink: A curling team or the sheet of ice on which the match is played.
Rock: The North American term for the curling stone.
Second: The player who throws stones second.
Sheet: The 44.5m long playing area. Also sometimes referred to as the rink.
Skip: The player who plays usually throws stones last, directs the game and determines the team's strategy.
Slider: The apparatus attached to the sliding foot. The slider helps the curler complete a smooth delivery of the stone and also helps the sweepers make their way down the rink with more speed and agility.
Stone: A round granite playing piece. Also known as the rock.
Sweeper: A team member who uses a broom to sweep debris from the rock's path and direct the stone in the desired direction.
Swingy ice: Term to describe ice that causes the rock to curl.
Takeout: A shot thrown hard enough to take the opposing team's stone, or stones, out of play.
Tee line: The line drawn across the middle of the house from the hack line.
Third: The player who throws stones third, usually the vice-skip.
