| 5-Pocket Jean | A Straight leg premium quality constructed jeans. |
| 90° Heel | Standard heel for most boots, assists with walking stability. |
| Airport Friendly | Boots manufactured with no detectable metal, generally replaced with composite/fiberglass material. |
| Alligator Skin | High gloss skin with a deep color, also has a distinctive square scale pattern called “tiles”. |
| ANSI | (American National Standards Institute) is the nationally recognized rating system for product conformance to standards such as steel toe work boots. |
| Anti-Microbial Lining | A lining within the boot that reduces odor and inhibits bacterial growth. |
| Arch | Curved Part of the foot, generally described as the area located between the heel and ball of the foot. |
| Athletic Shoe | Shoe designed for use during exercise and athletic endeavors. |
| Back Quarter | The section of leather that makes up the back of the shaft of a western boot. |
| Back Seam | The stitched seam down the back of the boot. |
| Ball | The padded section of the sole of the foot between the toes and the arch, generally where the weight of the body rests when the heel is lifted. |
| Bick 4 | A leather care product that cleans, conditions, polishes, and repels stains and water. |
| Boot-Cut Jean | Leg jeans cut to fit comfortably over western style boots. |
| Boot Tree | Cedar boot insert used to hold the shape of the boot while protecting it from moisture damage when not being worn. |
| Box Toe | The stiffened tip of a shoe or boot that is added to provide space and protection for the toes. |
| Break | A crease naturally created across the vamp of a shoe after standard wear. |
| Buffalo Skin | Very durable leather made from the skin of American Bison. |
| Bull Hide | Very common type of leather, usually very durable, made from the hide of a cow, also known as cowhide. |
| Burnish | A buffing technique done to a shoe’s surface to give the leather an antiqued look. |
| Caiman | A sub-species of alligator native to Central & South America, the leather is tanned and has a finish similar to a scaled reptile with a very unique pattern. |
| Calfskin | Very light and fine grained leather from the skin of a calf with a high luster finish. |
| Cap Toe | A protective cover for the toe of a boot, reinforcement for safety purposes. |
| Chukka Boot | 4” lacer style boot with a fairly simple design. |
| Circumference | Measurement around the calf where the widest part of the boot shaft reaches. |
| Clog | A closed toe, open heeled type of shoe, usually with wooden soles. |
| Codura Nylon | Water resistant nylon coated with polyurethane to resistant punctures and tears. |
| Composite Shank | Non-metal support in the bottom of a boot. |
| Composite Toe | Non-metallic lightweight safety toe. |
| Cordovan | Leather derived from a horse, generally dark cherry after tanning, also a common name for a dark cherry color. |
| Cowboy Heel | Inward slanted heel over an inch high. |
| Crepe Sole | A durable rubber sole, air blown to give it a lightweight quality. |
| Curing | The process of preparing animal hides for tanning with chemicals. |
| Deer Tan | Very soft and supple leather. |
| Dip | The curve in the top of the shaft of a boot. |
| Distressed Leather | Leather treated to look already worn. |
| Duster | A full-length canvas or linen coat worn to protect from dust. |
| Eel | Delicate, exotic skin with a very high shine finish. |
| Electrostatic Dissipating (ESD) | A boot feature that prevents static electricity build up in the boot to reduce the risk of static shock to people and products. |
| Elk | Leather from the hide of an elk, especially tanned for added softness. |
| Embossed Leather | Printed leather, often made to imitate exotic skins. |
| Engineer Boot | Type of motorcycle boot worn to protect riders from the heat of the motorcycle and to protect the foot and leg from falls. |
| Exotic Leather | Leather tanned from hides of non-farm or wild animals, usually more expensive than standard leather as availability varies. |
| Eyelet | The holes on a boot through which the laces are woven. |
| Faux Leather | Manufactured material made to look similar to natural leather. |
| Fire Resistant | Boot consisting of an outer shell, a moisture barrier, and a thermal barrier to protect the foot and leg against fire and heat. |
| Flare-Leg Jean | Jeans with a wide tapered bottom. |
| Flat Foot | A disorder which causes the arch of the foot to fall making the entire foot lay flat. |
| Footbed | An insert within the boot added for comfort and support, occasionally removable. |
| Foxing | The leather that covers the heel of the foot. |
| Front Quarter | The section of leather that makes up the front of a boot’s shaft. |
| Full-Grain Leather | Naturally textured leather which provides better durability, breath ability, and comfort. |
| Full Quill Ostrich | Very fine and durable leather, with the characteristic "goose bump" look. |
| Goatskin | Fine leather made from the skin of a goat. |
| Goodyear Welt | A method of attaching the sole of a shoe to the upper of the boot, this construction allows for multiple sole replacements. |
| Gore-Tex | Breathable material added to a shoe or boot lining for the purpose of waterproofing. |
| Grain | A natural pattern in leather, that often varies based on the type of leather. |
| Hand-Crafted | Boots sewn and designed by hand rather than by machine. |
| Harness Boot | A pull-on motorcycle boot made of heavy leather designed to protect the leg and foot, with a loop restraint across the vamp. |
| Heel | Solid section on the bottom of the shoe that supports the heel of the foot. |
| Heel Counter | Placed on the inside of the boot to hold the heel of the foot in place. |
| Heel Height | Height of the bottom of the heel to the start of the shaft. |
| Heel Lift | The finished abrasive bottom of the heel base. |
| Hide | Treated skin of an animal. |
| Hiking Boot | Boot designed for durability and traction while hiking or climbing providing ankle support and foot protection. |
| Imitation Leather | Man made material created to look like natural leather. |
| Insole | The lining of the bottom of the interior of the boot. |
| Instep | The arch of the foot. |
| Insulated Boot | A boot specifically manufactured to keep feet warm in cold conditions. |
| J-Toe | Narrow pointed boot toe. |
| Kangaroo | Very tough and durable leather from the hide of a Kangaroo. |
| Kidskin | Soft goat leather generally made from the skin of mature goats. |
| Kiltie | A boot decoration consisting of a section of fringe over the boot vamp, usually removable. |
| Lacer | Boot that is tightened through the use of laces woven through eyelets. |
| Lace-Up Roper | Similar to the standard roper with a wide rounded toe, with the exception that is laced up rather than pulled on. |
| Lambskin | Soft leather from the skin of a lamb. |
| Last | The hard form over which a boot is made, also used to determine boot shape and size. |
| Leather | Material created from the tanning and processing of animal skin. |
| Lining | Interior of a boot. |
| Lizard | Type of leather made from the skin of a lizard. |
| Logger Boot | Tall work boot with an extra thick sole, designed to protect against hostile environments. |
| Low-Rise Jeans | cut to be worn lower than the traditional waistline. |
| Lug Sole | A heavy durable rubber sole with deep treads that provide stability and traction in utility shoes and boots. |
| Mary Jane | A strap shoe with low heels, broad and rounded closed toes, and a single-buckle strap across the instep. |
| Medallion | Decorative stitching below the vamp of a boot. |
| Metatarsal Bones | The middle part of the foot that forms the instep and includes the five long bones of the foot. |
| Metguard | An added plate on top of the boot to protect the top of the foot from injury. |
| Midsole | Layer of cushioning material between the outsole and the insole of a shoe. |
| Motorcycle Boot | Boots specifically made for the purposes of riding a motorcycle, usually have a very durable sole, and are made of heavy leather to protect the foot and leg. |
| Mule | A slip–on shoe that usually covers the toes and instep of the foot Generally a back-less shoe. |
| Nappa Leather | Very soft leather made from the skin of a sheep or goat. |
| Natural-Rise Jean | Jeans that come up to the natural waist, generally resting above the hip bones. |
| Neoprene | A synthetic rubber used to produce a dense sole. |
| Nubuck | Dyed leather finished and buffed to resemble suede. |
| Oil Resistant | Boot designed to be resistant to oils and other similar chemicals, designed specifically for industrial settings. |
| Orthotic | Support for the foot used to relieve discomfort. |
| Outsole | The outer sole of boot that is the bottom of the shoe and contacts the ground. |
| Ostrich | One of the finest and most durable leathers, it has a characteristic "goose bump" look because of the large follicles from which the feathers grew. |
| Oxford | A type of laced shoe, usually covering the foot nearly to the ankle. |
| Packer Boot | Lacer boot with stacked leather sole. |
| Paddock Boot | Also known as Jodhpur Boots, are short boots that comes just above the ankle, used for English riding. |
| Pigskin | Leather from the hide of a pig, usually brushed or sueded to cover scarring. |
| Piping | Ornamental material, used for trimming the seams of boots. |
| Puncture Resistant | Boot with added lining to prevent sharp and dangerous items from penetrating the boot. |
| Quarter | Upper portion of the boot, also known as the shaft. |
| Quarter Lining | The interior lining of the upper portion of the boot. |
| R-Toe | Round, wide toe. |
| Riding Boot | Boot especially made for riding horses, usually style specific for Western or English riding. |
| Roper | Short boot that stops above the ankle, with a very low squared-off heel, usually made with rounded toes. |
| Rubber Sole | Sole made of rubber rather than leather, generally found on lower cost boots, also used for comfort purposes. |
| Sandal | An open shoe where the sole is held to the foot by a strip of material which usually passes over the instep or through the toes. |
| Scallop | A series of circle segments forming a decorative border on the toe or at the top of the shaft of Western boots. |
| Safety Shoe | Shoe designed to meet certain safety specifications usually with a reinforced toe, vamp and other protective measures. |
| Safety Toe | Reinforced boot toe, usually made of steel or composite material, designed to meet specific ANSI safety standards. |
| Shaft Height | Height of shaft measured from mid-arch to the top of the boot |
| Shank | Usually steel or fiber support in the bottom of the boot. |
| Sharkskin | Durable and tough leather made from the hide of a shark. |
| Sheep Skin | Soft material obtained from the hide of a sheep. |
| Shoe Anatomy | Diagram of a boot. |
| Shoe Boot | Shoe deigned to look like a typical boot without the tall shaft. |
| Side Welt | Stitched between front and back, giving boot a finished appearance. |
| Slim-Fit Jean | Very narrow fitting straight legged jeans. |
| Slip On Boot | Boot designed to be easily slipped on with out lacing or zipping. |
| Slip Resistant | Tread on the sole of boots designed to prevent slipping, usually for use in an industrial environment. |
| Slouch | Boot with a loose baggy design in the shaft. |
| Smooth Skin Ostrich | Fine and durable similar to the regular ostrich in feel without the characteristic bumps of most Ostrich leathers. |
| Snake Proof | Boot specially lined to prevent the fangs of snakes from penetrating through to skin. |
| Snake Skin | A scale covered leather that is produced from the hide of a snake. |
| Snip Toe | Type of narrow toe with a squared-off “snipped” tip. |
| Sock Liner | The interior lining of the insole. |
| Soft Toe | Traditionally firm toe box support without added safety toe cap. |
| Sole | The bottom of a shoe, also known as an outsole. |
| Sole Stitching | Holds the welting and the outsole together. |
| Split Leather | Thick cattle hides that are split to create a desired thickness of leather. |
| Square Toe | Wide toe, squared off at the tip. |
| Stacked Heel | Heel that is made up of stacked, compressed layers of leather. |
| Steel Toe | Toe reinforced with steel as a safety feature used to resist impact and compression. |
| Straw | An agricultural byproduct often woven together to form hats. |
| Synthetic Material | Man-made materials designed to look like leather. |
| Tanning | Process of curing animal skins into leather. |
| Tip | An additional piece of leather covering the toe of a shoe. |
| Titanium Toe | Alloy-mixed toe used to lighten the weight of the boot while providing protection for the foot. |
| Toe Bug | Stitched design on the toe of the boot. |
| Trail Riding Boot | Durable boots made to be comfortable when both riding and walking. |
| Tread | The rough under surface of a shoe. |
| Upper | The main part of the shoe, not including the sole or vamp of the boot. |
| Upper Leather | The leather used in covering the main part of the shoe, not including the sole or vamp of the boot. |
| Vamp | The section of the boot that covers the area between the instep and the toes. |
| Wader | Boot usually no lower than the knee that is used to keep dry when walking in water. |
| Walking Heel | A 1 3/8” heel with a slightly inward slant. |
| Waterproof Membrane | Inner boot lining which is waterproof but still “breaths” allowing moisture to escape without letting it in. |
| Waterproof Leather | Leather treated for the purposes of preventing water from entering into the boot. |
| Wax Hide | Leather impregnated with oils, fats or chemicals. |
| Wedge sole | A flat sole with no heel used for its added surface area under the foot providing better grip on slippery surfaces. |
| Western Boot | Type of boot which derives its unique style from the 19th-century American West. |
| Work Western Boot | Pull on work boots that resemble cowboy boots. |
| Wellington | Pull on boot, generally used for adverse weather. |
| Welting | Strip of leather between the upper and the sole. |
| Welted | Where the sole is sewn to the welt connected to the inside. |
| Width | Measurement from side to side. |
| Wing Tip | A toecap, often with a perforated pattern that has a point at the center and a piece at each side extending back along the top and sides. |
| Work Boot | A boot designed with the safety and comfort specifications to be worn in an industrial environment. |
| X-Toe | Narrow snip toe. |
| Zip Boot | A boot that zips up the side rather than being laced or pulled on. |
