The following glossary defines chainmail terms that come up in various places on this website. Some of the entries presented have other meanings, but only their meaning within the realm of chainmail will be considered here. For a much more extensive list of chainmail-related terms, please visit the M.A.I.L. glossary.
actual aspect ratio (AAR)
Actual aspect ratio is the aspect ratio using actual ring measurements. This is important as springback (defined below) causes the inner diameter of a ring to be slightly larger than the size of the mandrel used to manufacture the ring.
alloy
The composition of different metallic and non-metallic elements that make up a certain metal.
aspect ratio (AR)
The ring inner diameter to wire size ratio. When you make this division you are given a decimal number, the precision of which is determined by the precision of the initial values. The aspect ratio of a collection of rings of the same type will dictate which weaves will be possible to construct out of those rings.
Example: If your ring inner diameter is .250" and your wire size is .063", then the equasion (.250/.063) is used, and the result is 4.0. The answer we get has two significant digits, because that is the precision of the number in the equasion containing the lowest number of significant digits (.063).
basic unit
The smallest repeatable segment of a weave. Any and all successive instances of that unit have the rings sharing the same alignment and relative position.
cell
A term used loosely to describe a single segment or distinct element of a weave.
chainmail
A flexible material composed of small interlocking metal rings or loops of chain. In some cases, chainmail can be made of rings that are made from a material that is not metallic, or a combination of metal rings and non-metallic rings.
coif
A maille hood which covers the head and has an opening for most of the face. Generally speaking, coifs extend to the edge of the shoulders, although this is not always the case.
coil
The product of winding wire on a mandrel. A coil is a thing that resembles a spring. Coils are cut into rings.
hauberk
A maille shirt with 3/4 to full length sleeves, which extends down to the knees. It normally has slits that start from the bottom hem and extend up to the mid-top of the thighs, either on the wearer's sides (footman's slits), or on the front and back (horseman's slits), to allow for greater leg mobility.
ideal aspect ratio (IAR)
Ideal aspect ratio is measured by using the mandrel size as the inner diameter measurement. The value received from the equasion is not accurate. It is always lower than the actual aspect ratio, and therefore should only be used as a guideline.
inlay
An image woven into chainmail fabric by using rings of at least two different colours, multiple weaves, or a combination of the two.
inner diameter (ID)
Inner diameter (or interior diameter) is used to measure the size of a ring. It is the distance from one side of the inside of a ring to the other side. Generally speaking, the inner diameter of a ring is said to be the size of the mandrel on which the ring was originally wound, for example if the ring was cut from a coil which was wound on a 5/16" mandrel, that ring's ID is said to be that size. However, due to factors such as springback, the inner diameter is slightly higher than that value.
On this website, inner diameter refers to the actual size of the ring, whereas mandrel diameter (MD) refers to the mandrel size.
listed ring size
The size of the mandrel on which a ring was wound. This value is always smaller than the ring's actual inner diameter. Listed ring size is synonymous with mandrel diameter (MD).
mandrel
A cylindrical shaft around which wire is wound to form coils for the purpose of making rings.
mandrel diameter (MD)
Mandrel diameter refers to the size of the mandrel. It is usually measured in inches or millimeters. Also referred to as listed ring size.
maximum aspect ratio (maximum AR)
Refers to the largest possible aspect ratio that will work for a particular weave. Very few weaves have a maximum AR.
minimum aspect ratio (minimum AR)
Refers to the smallest possible aspect ratio that will work for a particular weave.
For all intents and purposes, the listed minimum AR values for each weave entry in the weaves section of this website refers to the smallest AR a ring type must be in order to make a piece of that weave indefinitely expandable. In some situations, a slightly smaller AR can be used, but the weave will bunch up after a certain number of units are added making it impossible to add extra rings.
oxidation (also: oxidization)
The result of a metals exposure to oxygen. Effects generally include discolouring, due to oxide buildup. The degree of this consequence varies greatly from one metal type to another, and from the amount of exposure.
preferred aspect ratio
An arbitrary value assigned to a weave that gives it that 'just right' look and feel. This number will vary by opinion.
recommended aspect ratio range
The range of actual aspect ratios which work well with, and are ideal for achieving the desired look, flexibility and functionality of a certain weave.
root weave (also: parent weave)
The weave that a weave variant, weave structure, or weave construct is based on.
speedweave
The utilization of both pre-opened and pre-closed rings in weaving. Theoretically, by pre-closing a number of rings, you will save time weaving, the main reason being that you are adding more than one ring to a piece of chainmail at one time (even though you still took the time to pre-close a percentage of the rings).
Some argue that speedweaving doesn't actually decrease overall weaving time. Whether or not time is actually saved will vary from one situation to another.
springback
The tendency of a coil, once wound, to expand after the coiling tension is released. This causes the coil to expand slightly, thus making the resulting rings slightly larger than the mandrel on which they were originally wound. Springback varies according to metal type and hardness, mandrel size and wire size used, and to a lesser extent, other factors such as winding speed, etc..
temper
The degree of hardness of a metal.
weave
A unique and indefinitely repeatable pattern of rings, characterized by the connections between rings, and containing only rings that serve to maintain the physical structure thereof or to connect an instance of the pattern to an adjacent instance.
weave variant
A unique and indefinitely repeatable pattern of rings characterized by the connections between rings, which is derived from one or more (root) weaves.