| Good Knot |
Serves a useful purpose, is easy to tie, doesn't come undone on it's own, and is easy to untie. |
| Bend |
A knot is a bend when you join two ropes together. |
| Hitch |
A knot is a hitch when you make a rope fast to another object. |
| Working End |
Part of the rope being manipulated. |
| Standing Part |
Inactive section of the rope. |
| Bight |
Any curved section, slack part, or loop between the two ends of a rope. |
| Overhand Loop |
working part goes over the standing part. |
| Underhand Loop |
working part goes under the standing part. |
| Turn |
One round of rope. |
| Yarn |
Fibers twisted together (typically Z lay). |
| Strand |
Two or more large yarns twisted together (typically S lay). |
| Rope |
Several strands twisted together (typically Z lay). |
| Cable |
Several Ropes twisted together (typically S lay.). |
| S lay |
The twist matches the middle of an S. |
| Z lay |
The twist matches the middle of a Z. |
Each knot used for BSA rank advancement is marked with one or more of the following codes: