Abbreviations and Definitions:

Timber merchants have evolved their own jargon which is often abbreviated in catalogues and price lists.
The following list gives the typical terminology used in the timber trade.

Abbreviations and Definitions:
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

A

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B

BD FT:

Board Foot.

A unit of volume 12x12x1in ("14"4cu inches)

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C

CLR (Clear):

Wood that is free from knots and other defects

CLS:

Canadian Lumbar Standard Relating to spruce, pine and fir

Common:

American hardwood grading term with four or five subdivisions

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D

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E

EMC:

Equilibrium moisture content. The moisture content a piece of timber will ultimately reach when exposed to a more or less constant level of temperature and humidity

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F

FAS:

First and seconds The best American grade for hardwood

F1F:

An American grade for hardwood with one FAS face and 1 No 1 common or better

FR:

Foot run. A term used in calculating the price (usually of softwood)

FS:

Fresh sawn Wood supplied newly cut from the log.

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G

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H

HG:

Home grown.

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I

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J

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K

KD:

Kiln dried. Timber dried artificially to a lower moisture content and more quickly than can be achieved by air drying.

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L

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M

MC:

Moisture content. The proportion (by weight) of water present in the tissues of a piece of timber, given as a percentage of the oven dry weight.

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N

Nominal dimensions:

The standardized widths and thicknesses of timber when newly sawn from the log. Also used to refer to the various sections thereafter. The actual size will subsequently be reduced by shrinkage and bark.

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O

O.S.E:

One square edge. A board having one edge cut square, the other being left with sapwood and bark.

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P

PAR:

Planed all round. Wood that has had all sides planed after dimension sawing.

PBS:

Planed both sides.

PER CUBE:

A term used in pricing timber where the cost of a cubic foot is quoted

PS:

Part seasoned. Some dense woods are difficult to season and are sold as part seasoned with no guarantee as to the moisture content.

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Q

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R

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S

SE:

Squares Boards which are cut square on both edges.

SELECTS:

The second best American grade.

SFM:

Super feet measure. The surface area expressed in square feet.

SPF:

Spruce, Pine, Fir. These woods are grouped together because they have similar properties and are marketed as a single species.

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T

T&G:

Tongued and grooved. Having a tongue machined into one edge and a groove in the other.

TT:

Through and through. The process of cutting a log through its full length and width with parallel cuts, producing boards with sapwood and bark on both edges.

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U

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V

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W

Wane:

The untrimmed edge of a board showing sapwood and bark.

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X

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Y

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Z

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