Puzzle Glossary

You don't need a manual to assemble a jigsaw puzzle—the goal is simple: fit the pieces together until the image is complete. However, the world of puzzling has its own unique vocabulary. Whether you're a casual enthusiast or a seasoned speed solver, knowing these terms can enhance your appreciation and understanding of the hobby. Here are some commonly used terms, plus a few you might not have heard before.

A

• Anchoring: A puzzle piece that connects a large central section of a puzzle to one of its edges.

B

• Blanks: The concave indentations in a puzzle piece that receive the tabs of other pieces. Also known as innies, sockets, slots, or holes.

C

• Casual Puzzler: An individual who engages in puzzling as a hobby for enjoyment and relaxation, without concern for speed or competition.

• Competitive/Speed Puzzler: A puzzler who tests their skills by competing against others to complete puzzles in the fastest possible time.

• Contour Cut: (See Whimsy Piece) A term often used interchangeably with whimsy piece, referring to a puzzle piece cut into a recognizable object shape.

D

• • Dancing Man: A specific puzzle piece shape with a tab at the top (like a head) and blanks on the other three sides, abstractly resembling a dancing figure.

  • Dissectologist: A person who enjoys the hobby or practice of solving jigsaw puzzles. The term derives from "dissecting" a picture into pieces and then "reassembling" them. It's a playful term for a puzzle enthusiast.

  • Dopamine: A neurotransmitter released in the brain during pleasurable activities, including finding a difficult puzzle piece, reinforcing positive feelings, and engagement.

  • Double-Sided Puzzle: A puzzle with an image on both sides of the pieces. This can be the same image on both sides (making it significantly harder) or two different images, adding to the challenge.

E

• Edges First: A common strategy for beginning a puzzle, involving first assembling all the pieces with straight sides to create the frame or border of the image.

• Evil Genius: A term used to describe a puzzle designer who creates exceptionally challenging, often seemingly impossible, puzzles. (e.g., Yuu Asaka's clear acrylic puzzle with five corner pieces).

F

• Final Countdown: The exciting stage of puzzling when only a few pieces remain to complete the image.

• Frenemies: Two puzzle pieces that appear to fit together in shape or design but are actually incorrect matches for their respective positions.

• FSC Cardboard: Cardboard certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), indicating it has been produced from responsibly managed forests, promoting environmental sustainability.

G

• Gloss Finish: A shiny, reflective coating on puzzle pieces that can cause glare, making it difficult to see the design clearly. It is the opposite of a matt or linen finish.

• Gradient Puzzle: A puzzle design that features a smooth, gradual shift of colors from one area to another, rather than a traditional illustration or photograph. Some find the lack of distinct shapes more challenging, while others find the logical color progression easier.

H

• Half-Cut: Puzzles that are not fully punched through by the die-cut press, designed to remain intact for display purposes (e.g., in shops) rather than for assembly.

• Hole in One: The satisfying experience of a puzzle piece fitting perfectly on the very first attempt.

I

• Image Poster: A larger reference image, sometimes included in a puzzle box, to aid puzzlers in assembly by providing a clearer view of the design details than the box cover.

• Innies: (See Blanks) Another term for the concave holes in a puzzle piece.

J

• Jigsaw Puzzle Piece Phobia / Dissection Puzzle Phobia: An irrational fear or significant discomfort associated with handling or even contemplating jigsaw puzzle pieces.

K

• Knobs: (See Tab) Another term for the protruding parts of a puzzle piece.

L

• Linen Finish: A textured, non-reflective (matt) coating on puzzle pieces that reduces glare and often results in a stronger, more durable piece.

• Loops: (See Tab) Another term for the protruding parts of a puzzle piece.

M

• Matchmaking: A puzzling technique where a piece from an uncompleted area is used as a color swatch to scan through loose pieces, searching for perfect color matches.

• Matt Finish: (See Linen Finish) A non-reflective coating on puzzle pieces.

O

• Outies: (See Tab) Another term for the protruding parts of a puzzle piece.

P

• Plant-Based Ink: Ink formulated with vegetable oils (e.g., soybean or corn oil) instead of petroleum-based products, often used in eco-friendly puzzles.

• Poster Puzzle: A puzzle whose completed design is considered aesthetically pleasing enough to be framed and displayed as artwork.

• Pre-Production: The initial organizational stage of starting a new puzzle, typically involving sorting out edge pieces, turning all pieces right-side up, and grouping pieces by color or design.

• Puzzler: A person who engages in the hobby of solving puzzles.

• Puzzling: The act, skill, or pastime of solving puzzles. For jigsaw enthusiasts, it encompasses working on, doing, putting together, assembling, constructing, building, completing, or solving jigsaw puzzles.

• Puzzler's Neck: Neck pain or discomfort experienced from prolonged leaning over a puzzle without taking breaks. Investing in a tilting puzzle table is often recommended for chronic sufferers.

• Puzzle Dealer: A person or organization that supplies puzzles to support a puzzle addict’s habit.

• Puzzle Mule: A person who traffics puzzles from a puzzle dealer to the user.

• Puzzband: Short for puzzle husband, a husband of a puzzle addict.

S

• Slots: (See Blanks) Another term for the concave holes in a puzzle piece.

• Sockets: (See Blanks) Another term for the concave holes in a puzzle piece.

T

• Tab: The protruding, convex parts of a puzzle piece that fit into the blanks (holes) of adjoining pieces. Also known as outies, loops, or knobs.

• Two-Way Trick / Double Cutting: A die-cutting technique where pieces are designed to fit into more than one place, adding complexity and potential "frenemies" to the puzzle.

W

• Whimsy Piece: An individual puzzle piece cut into the recognizable shape of an object (e.g., an animal, a flower, a specific character). The shape may or may not relate to the overall image on the piece. Also known as Contour Cut.

• Working Blind: The challenging technique of assembling a puzzle without referring to the box image or any accompanying reference sheet, relying solely on piece shape and internal patterns. Some dedicated puzzlers consider this the ultimate test of skill.