The glossary is to not only serve as a research tool, but to also draw attention to the Pennsylvania German terminology for textile related articles. It should be noted that Pennsylvania German is a dialect language, and there will be variations of spellings and usages depending on the location. This glossary provides the most commonly used spelling and lexicon for the Bucks, Lehigh and Montgomery County region of Southeastern Pennsylvania. PA German textiles shared both differences and similarities in style and construction.

Pennsylvania German textiles shared both differences and similarities in style and construction from other European immigrant textile traditions. When possible, objects are described in both English and Pennsylvania German terms if the Pennsylvania German terms could be documented from early manuscripts and references.

Note: The abbreviation (pp) references the past tense (past participle) form of the verb. Click on these acronyms following a term to see examples: MHC = examples in Mennonite Heritage Center collection SLHC = examples in Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center collection GH = examples in Goschenhoppen Historians collection

 Textile and Fabric Terms:

• All wool cloth - gans Willen Duch

• Boon - Brechaagel

• Broadcloth - fein Breit Tuch - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Broken twill weave – Gebrochene hin un wieder

• Calamanaco - Calamink

• Calico - Gaduh - SLHC - GH

• Cambric - Cammertuch - SLHC

• Canvas - Kannvas - SLHC

• Checked – Kelsch, dobbelschteenich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Coarse tow - grob Werken

• Coarse tow cloth - grob Wercke Duch

• Coarse tow stripe - grob Werken Streffen

• Cotton - Baawoll - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Cotton flannel - Baumwolliger - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Cotton stripe - Bauwollen streffe - SLHC - GH

• Crepe - Krebbendel - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Dimity - feiner Barchet - SLHC - GH

• Fine tow - fein Wercken, Feinwerken

• Fine tow cloth - Feinwercken Duch

• Flax – Flachs

• Fringe - Frantzel - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Fustian - Berchant, Barchet

• Half hemp - halb Henffen

• Half tow cloth - halb Wercken Tuch, halb Wercken Duch, halb Werken

• Half wool - halb Willen

• Hemp cloth - Henffen Tuch

• Hemp with linen in one direction and hemp in the other - Flecks Henfe

• Lawn - Schleyer - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Leather - Ledder - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Linen - Leine, Fleksa, Fleckses - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Linen cloth - Leinwand

• Linsey-woolsey - halb Leine, halb Flecksen, halblein, halb Leinnen - MHC

• Linsey-woolsey striped - halb Leinen Strefen, halb Lein Stiebben

• Mohair - Camel-harr - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Muslin – Moslin, Nesseltuch - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Plaid or Check - dobbelstein, dobbelstee, doppelstein, dobbelstein - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Plaid linen - dobelstein Flecksen - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Plaid tow - dobelstein Werken

• Plain or single weave - einfach - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Ribbon / tape - Bendel, Band, Bändel - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Sheepskin - Schaf haut, Schofhaut

• Serge - Scharsy - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Silk - Seide - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Spot weave - Hockelbock - MHC - SLHC

• Stripe - streffen, striefen, streben, streiben

• Stripe cotton - streffen Bauwoll

• Striped - streiffigt - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Small checked fabric - klein gewürffelte

• Tow - Werken, Werckes, Warrick - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Tow (of the first heckling) - Bollwaerrick

• Twill - Zwillich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Warp – Zettel

• Weft - Eischlack

• Wool - Woll - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Woolen cloth - Woolen Duch, Wullen Duch, Wüllen Tuch

• Worsted - wustert - MHC - SLHC - GH

Clothing and Accessories

• Apron - Schartz, Schurz, Schurze, Schortz - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Beaver hat - Kastor-hut - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Bib - Schlawwerduch - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Bonnet - Bannet - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Boots - Stiefel, Stieffel, Stiffel, Stifflen - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Breeches - Hosen - MHC - GH

• Broadfall - Hosselat - MHC - GH

• Buckles - Schnalle, Schnallen

• Calf leather shoes - rinslederen Schuh

• Camisole - Kamisol, Kamesol - MHC - GH

• Cap - Kap, Kappe, Haube, Mütze - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Cap material - Kaben Stoft

• Child’s dress - kinder Frack, kinner Frack - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Child’s shoes - kinder Schuh - SLHC - GH

• Coat - Rock - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Coif - Haube - SLHC

• Diaper - Bildwerk - MHC - SLHC

• Drawers - unter-Hosen - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Dress - Frack - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Felt hat - filtz Hut - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Frock coat - Fliggelrock - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Girdle - Gürtle - GH

• Gloves – Handschuh, Hensching - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Gown - langer Rock, weiber Rock - MHC - SLHC

• Greatcoat - grossen Rock, grosen Rock - SLHC

• Handkerchief - Schnupftuch, Schnupftug, Schnubduch - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Hat felt - hut filz

• Hat - Hut, Huth - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Hooks - Haften - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Kerchief - hals Duch, hals Tuch - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Leather apron - shurtz Fell, schurz Fell

• Leather pants - leder Hosen

• Linen breeches - leine Hossen

• Linen shirt - flachs Hembd - MHC - SLHC

• Lining - Futter - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Long pants - langen Hossen, lange Hosen

• Mantle / Cloak - Mandel, Mantel - MHC - GH

• Men’s shirt - manns Hembter, manns Hemd

• Men’s shoes - manns Schu

• Mittens - dobelte vaust Handschu, Vauschthensching - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Muff - Muffe - MHC - SLHC

• Neckerchief - Halsduch - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Nightgown - schalf Rock - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Overshoes - Uberschuh

• Pointed shoes - spitzige Schuh

• Petticoat - Unnerrock - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Plaid breeches - doppelsteinerne Hosen

• Pocket - Sack - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Pocketbook - backit Buch - SLHC

• Pumps - Bumbs - GH

• Riding coat - reise Rock

• Round toe shoes - runde Schuh

• Shirt / Shift - Hemd, Hemb, Hembt, Hempt - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Coverall - Camisade, Camisado - SLHC - GH

• Shoe - Schuh, Schuck, Shu - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Short gown - schard Gaund, Schargaunt, Scharkaunt - SLHC - GH

• Short pants, breeches - kurze Hosen - MHC

• Skirt - Weiwwerrock - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Slippers - Schlibbers, schlibers

• Small bonnet - kleiner Bannet

• Socks - Socken - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Stays - Schnürbrust - SLHC - GH

• Stocking - Strümpf, Strimpf, Strimb - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Straw hat - Strohuth - MHC - SLHC

• Sunbonnet - schdripp Hut - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Trousers – Traussers, lange Hosse - MHC - GH

• Vest / Waistcoat - West, Weste, brust Duch, brust Laben, Brusttug, brust Tuch - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Woman’s cap - Mitzel

• Woman’s jacket - Leibel, Leiwel

• Work coat - wammes Rock

Quilts

• Basket pattern quilt - kaerrab Deppich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Border of quilt - Grans - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Cradle quilt - wiege Deppich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Embroidered quilt - ausgenehter Deppich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Fabrics printed with design patterns to be embroidered - gschtaempter blacke fer ausnehe

• Fan quilt pattern - faenne Deppich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Fancy stitches on Crazy quilt - faensie Schtich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Friendship quilt - Beddelman Deppich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Iron on heat transfers for embroidery - abbiggele, abgebiggelt (pp)

• Long quilting thread - langer faadem, lang netli, e.g. “Mei faadem is so lang er reecht in die naekscht woch.” [“My thread is so long it reaches into next week.”], “Lang netli, faul metli.” [“Long thread, lazy girl.”]

• Patched quilt block - Schgwaer, Schtann - MHC - SLHC

• Patchwork quilt - blacke Gwild, gschtickelter Deppich - MHC - SLHC

• Quilt - Deppich, Gwild - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Quilt backing - hinne wedder, unne wedder dich

• Quilt frame - Qwild frame

• Quilt frame clamp - Glamm, Glamme, Qwild schrauwe

• Quilt frame stand - Bock, Gwilde bock, Gwild beck

• Quilt patch / block - Blacke, Backe - MHC - SLHC

• Quilt patches - Schticker

• Quilt sash - Ausfilling

• Quilt sashes - Schtrips

• Quilting calico - schtickel Kaduh, gwild Kaduh - GH

• Quilting party or gathering - Gwilding

• Quilting pattern - Muschder

• Quilting stitch - gwild Schtich

• Rainbow quilt (four shades of four colors) - regge bogge Deppich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• To air out quilts on the wash line or out the window – auslifde, lufte, geluft (pp), e.g. “Die comforts sin geluft warre.” [“The quilts were aired out.”]

• To appliqué - druf geneht - MHC - SLHC - GH

• To bind a quilt - iwwerschlagge, iwwergschlagge

• To bind the quilt edge - beinde, gebeind (pp)

• To cut quilt patches - schneide, gschnidde (pp), e.g. “Ich hab gwild blacke gschnidde.” [“I cut quilt patches.”]

• To finish the quilt edge by turning the bottom fabric up to sew it (foldover back to front) - ruff same, ruff gsammt (pp)

• To finish the quilt edge by turning the top fabric down and sewing it to the back (foldover top to back) - runner saaame, runner gsaamt (pp)

• To knot a comforter - gnippe, gegnipd (pp) - GH

• To mark a quilt for quilting - abamerricke, abgemaerrickt (pp)

• To recover a worn quilt sometimes as a quilt and at other times as a knotted comforter -iwwerziehe, iwwerzohe (pp)

• To roll or turn (turning under of one or more ends or sides of the quilt towards the center of the quilt as quilting progresses in the quilt frame) - Deppich drehe

• To sew the quilt patches together – schtickle, gschtickelt (pp)

• To thread a needle - eifeddle, eigefeddelt (pp)

• To turn the quilt edge to an unquilted portion - drehe, gedreht (pp), rolle, gerollt (pp) wickle, gewickelt (pp)

• Wedding quilt - hochzich Deppich - MHC

Embroidery, Sewing Equipment, Knits

• Adam and Eve - Adam un die Efaa - MHC - SLHC

• Buttonhole stitch - gnopplecher schtich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Cotton yarn - baumwollig garn

• Crochet - heegle, gheggelt (pp) - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Cross-stitch - greitzstich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Drawn work - gezogge aerwet - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Embroidery - ausgeneet Sach - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Feather stitch - fedder Schtich - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Knit - Schtricke

• Knitted - Gschtrickt - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Pin - Schpell, Schpelle, Spelle, Stecknadel

• Pincushion - Schpellekissi - SLHC- GH

• Sampler - Naameduch - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Scissors - Scheer

• Sewing silk - Seyde, Seyden, Seide

• Sewing thread - Netz

• Stitch - Schtich

• Thimble - Fingerhut

• Thread in the needle - Faadem

• To sew fine stitches - fei nehe, feigeneht (pp) e.g. “Sie neht mir awennich zu fei.” [“She sews a little too fine for me.”]

• To thread a needle - eifeddle, eigefeddelt (pp)

• Wool yarn - Wollegarn - MHC - SLCH

• Worsted yarn - gekämt wollen-garn

• Yarn – Garn - MHC - SLCH

Household and Utilitarian Textiles

• Bed Case – Bettziech - MHC - SLHC

• Bed curtain - Umhang

• Bed rope - Bettschtrick

• Bolster – Langerpilwen - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Chaff bag - Schprausack

• Coverlet - Deppig - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Feed bag - Fudsersack - MHC - GH

• Grain bag - Fruchtsack - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Hand Towel - Handduch, Handtuch - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Market Wallet - Zwarricksack - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Pillow - Kissi, Koppekissi

• Pillowcase - Koppeziech - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Sheet - Leinduch - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Tablecloth – Dischduch - MHC - SLHC - GH

• Upper bed – Bettdeck

Textile Processing Equipment

• Cut reel - Godtshaschpel - MHC

• Flax brake - Flachsbrech

• Flax heckel - Flachshechel

• Flier hooks on a spinning wheel - Dred hocken

• Loom - Webschtuhl

• Loom harness – Wewwergeschir

• Loom shafts - Wewer scheften

• Scutching board - Schwingschtock

• Scutching knife - Schwingmesser

• Scutching wheel - Schwingraad, Schwingmiehl

• Spinning wheel (for flax) - Schpinraad - MHC

• Spinning wheel flier - Fliegel

• Spool rack for warping spools - Zeddelgarder

• Spools - Schpulen

• Temple sticks - Schpanschtab

• Warping mill - Zeddelraama

• Wool wheel - Wollraad