The following terms and definitions are used throughout the curling world.

  • BACKLINE The line across the ice at the back of the house.  Stones which are over this line are removed from play.
  • BITER A stone that just touches the outer edge of the circles.
  • BLANK END An end in which no points have been scored.
  • BONSPIEL A curling competition or tournament.
  • BRUSH A device used to sweep the ice in the path of a moving stone.
  • BURNED STONE A stone in motion touched by a member of either team, or any part of their equipment.  Burned stones are removed from play.
  • BUTTON The circle at the centre of the house.
  • COUNTER Any stone in the rings or touching the rings which is a potential point.
  • CURL The amount a rock bends while travelling down the sheet of ice.
  • DRAW WEIGHT The momentum required for a stone to reach the house or cirlces at the distant end.
  • END A portion of a curling game that is completed when each team has thrown eight stones and the score has been decided.
  • GUARD A stone that is placed in a position so that it may protect another stone.
  • HACKS The foot-holds at each end of the ice from which the stone is delivered.
  • HEAVY A rock delivered with a greater force than necessary.
  • HIT A take-out. Removal of a stone from the playing area by hitting it with another stone.
  • HOG LINE A line 10 meters from the hack at each end of the ice.
  • HOGGED STONE A stone that does not reach the far hog line. It must be removed from play.
  • HOUSE The rings or circles toward which play is directed consisting of a 12-foot ring, 8-foot ring, 4-foot ring and a button.
  • IN-TURN The rotation applied to the handle of a stone that causes it to rotate in a clockwise direction and curl for a right-handed curler.
  • LEAD The first player on a team to deliver a pair of stones for his/her team in each end.
  • OUT-TURN The rotation applied to the handle of a stone that causes it to turn and curl in a counter-clockwise direction for a right-handed curler.
  • PEBBLE A fine spray of water applied to a sheet of curling ice before commencing play.
  • RAISE When one stone is bumped ahead by another.
  • ROLL The movement of a curling stone after it has struck a stationary stone in play.
  • SECOND The curler who delivers the second pair of stones for hi/her team in each end.
  • SHEET The specific playing surface upon which a curling game is played.
  • SHOT ROCK At any time during an end, the stone closest to the button.
  • SKIP The player who determines the strategy, and directs play for the team.  The skip delivers the last pair of stones for his/her team in each end.
  • SPARE An alternate player or substitute.
  • SLIDER Slippery material placed on the sole of the shoe, to make it easier to slide on the ice.
  • SWEEPING The action of moving a broom or brush back and forth in the path of a moving stone.
  • TAKE OUT Removal of a stone from the playing area by hitting it with another stone.
  • TEE LINE The line that passes through the centre of the house parallel to the hog line and backline.
  • THIRD, VICE-SKIP OR MATE The third player on a team to throw two stones in each end.  Generally this player acts as the skip when the skip is delivering his/her stones and assists with shot selection decisions.
  • WEIGHT The amount of force given to the stone during the delivery.