ISO 8159
(Main)Textiles — Morphology of fibres and yarns — Vocabulary
Textiles — Morphology of fibres and yarns — Vocabulary
This document defines the principal terms used to describe the various forms into which textile fibres can be assembled, up to and including cabled yarns. It contains only terms of general application. Terms and definitions which are specific to particular fibres (such as hemp, silk, textile glass fibre, metal fibre, carbon fibre, etc.) are excluded. A morphological scheme as shown in REF Annex_sec_A \r \h Annex A 08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000C00000041006E006E00650078005F007300650063005F0041000000 is included which illustrates the relationship among various terms from a production point of view. This document does not include terms which describe the manufacturing or processing methods, or terms used to quantify fibre and yarn properties.
Textiles — Morphologie des fibres et fils — Vocabulaire
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
International
Standard
Second edition
Textiles — Morphology of fibres and
yarns — Vocabulary
Textiles — Morphologie des fibres et fils — Vocabulaire
PROOF/ÉPREUVE
Reference number
ISO 8159:2025(en)
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
PROOF/ÉPREUVE
ii
ISO 8159:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 Terms related to fibres .1
3.2 Terms related to yarns .2
Annex A (informative) Morphological scheme . 7
Bibliography . 8
Index . 9
PROOF/ÉPREUVE
iii
ISO 8159:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 38, Textiles, Subcommittee SC 23, Fibres and yarn.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 8159:1987), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— some terms and definitions have been added: core-spun yarn (3.2.13), wrapped yarn (3.2.14), fancy yarn
(3.2.15), slub yarn (3.2.15.1), knot yarn (3.2.15.2), caterpillar yarn (3.2.15.3), chenille yarn (3.2.15.4),
loop yarn (3.2.15.5), boucle yarn (3.2.15.6), braid yarn (3.2.15.7), spiral yarn (3.2.15.8);
— morphological scheme has been revised and moved to an informative annex (Annex A).
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
PROOF/ÉPREUVE
iv
International Standard ISO 8159:2025(en)
Textiles — Morphology of fibres and yarns — Vocabulary
1 Scope
This document defines the principal terms used to describe the various forms into which textile fibres can
be assembled, up to and including cabled yarns.
It contains only terms of general application. Terms and definitions which are specific to particular fibres
(such as hemp, silk, textile glass fibre, metal fibre, carbon fibre, etc.) are excluded.
A morphological scheme as shown in Annex A is included which illustrates the relationship among various
terms from a production point of view.
This document does not include terms which describe the manufacturing or processing methods, or terms
used to quantify fibre and yarn properties.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1 Terms related to fibres
3.1.1
textile fibre
material characterized by its flexibility, fineness and high ratio of length to cross-section, suitable for textile
applications
3.1.2
staple fibre
textile fibre (3.1.1) of limited length
3.1.3
filament
textile fibre (3.1.1) of very great length considered as continuous
Note 1 to entry: Filament includes monofilament and multifilament.
3.1.4
textile film
textile material in film form in which the molecular orientation is essentially in t
...
Style Definition
ISO/DISPRF 8159:2025(en)
...
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
ISO /TC 38/SC 23
Formatted: Left: 1.5 cm, Right: 1.5 cm, Section start:
New page, Header distance from edge: 1.27 cm, Footer
Secretariat: SAC
distance from edge: 1.27 cm
Formatted
Date: 2025-07-10-21
...
Formatted: zzCover large
Formatted
...
Formatted: Cover Title_A1, Adjust space between Latin
Textiles — Morphology of fibres and yarns — Vocabulary
and Asian text, Adjust space between Asian text and
numbers
Textiles — Morphologie des fibres et fils — Vocabulaire
PROOF
ISO #####-#:####(X/PRF 8159:2025(en)
Formatted: Font: Bold
Formatted: HeaderCentered, Line spacing: single
Formatted: Font: Bold
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0 cm, Right: 0 cm, Space
Before: 0 pt, No page break before, Adjust space
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication
between Latin and Asian text, Adjust space between
may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
Asian text and numbers
or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO
at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester. Formatted: Default Paragraph Font
Formatted: Default Paragraph Font
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: + 41 22 749 01 11
EmailE-mail: copyright@iso.org
Formatted: French (Switzerland)
Website: www.iso.orgwww.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
Formatted: FooterPageRomanNumber, Line spacing:
single
Formatted: Font: 11 pt
ii © ISO #### 2025 – All rights reserved
ii
ISO/DISPRF 8159:2025(en)
Formatted: Font: Bold
Formatted: Font: Bold
Formatted: HeaderCentered, Left, Line spacing: single
Contents
Foreword . iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
Annex A (informative) Morphological scheme . 8
Bibliography . 11
Index 12
Formatted: Font: 10 pt
Formatted: FooterCentered, Left, Space Before: 0 pt,
Tab stops: Not at 17.2 cm
Formatted: Font: 10 pt
Formatted: Font: 10 pt
Formatted: Font: 11 pt
Formatted: FooterPageRomanNumber, Left, Space
After: 0 pt, Tab stops: Not at 17.2 cm
© ISO 2025 – All rights reserved
iii
ISO #####-#:####(X/PRF 8159:2025(en)
Formatted: Font: Bold
Formatted: HeaderCentered, Line spacing: single
Formatted: Font: Bold
Foreword
Formatted: Adjust space between Latin and Asian text,
Adjust space between Asian text and numbers
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of
ISO documentsdocument should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules
of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
Field Code Changed
Attention is drawnISO draws attention to the possibility that some of the elementsimplementation of this
document may beinvolve the subjectuse of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence,
validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights. in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this
document, ISO had not received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document.
However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be
obtained from the patent database available at www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for
identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the
document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see
www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.htmlwww.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 38, Textiles, Subcommittee SC 23, Fibres and
yarn.
Formatted: Default Paragraph Font
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 8159:1987), which has been technically revised.
Formatted: Default Paragraph Font
The main changes are as follows:
Formatted: Default Paragraph Font
Formatted: Adjust space between Latin and Asian text,
— — some terms and definitions have been added: core-spun yarn (3.2.13),(Error! Reference source not
Adjust space between Asian text and numbers, Tab
found.), wrapped yarn (3.2.14),(Error! Reference source not found.), fancy yarn (3.2.15),(Error!
stops: Not at 0.7 cm + 1.4 cm + 2.1 cm + 2.8 cm +
Reference source not found.), slub yarn (3.2.15.1),(Error! Reference source not found.), knot yarn
3.5 cm + 4.2 cm + 4.9 cm + 5.6 cm + 6.3 cm + 7 cm
(3.2.15.2),(Error! Reference source not found.), caterpillar yarn (3.2.15.3),(Error! Reference source
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
not found.), chenille yarn (3.2.15.4),(Error! Reference source not found.), loop yarn (3.2.15.5),(Error!
Reference source not found.), boucle yarn (3.2.15.6),(Error! Reference source not found.), braid yarn
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
(3.2.15.7),(Error! Reference source not found.), spiral yarn (3.2.15.8);(Error! Reference source not
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
found.);
Formatted: Adjust space between Latin and Asian text,
— — morphological scheme has been revised and moved to an informative annex (Annex A).(0). Adjust space between Asian text and numbers
Field Code Changed
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
Formatted: FooterPageRomanNumber, Line spacing:
single
Formatted: Font: 11 pt
iv © ISO #### 2025 – All rights reserved
iv
DRAFT International Standard ISO/DIS 8159:2025(en)
Textiles — Morphology of fibres and yarns — Vocabulary
1 Scope
This document defines the principal terms used to describe the various forms into which textile fibres can be
assembled, up to and including cabled yarns.
It contains only terms of general application. Terms and definitions which are specific to particular fibres
(such as hemp, silk, textile glass fibre, metal fibre, carbon fibre, etc.) are excluded.
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
A morphological scheme as shown in Annex A0 is included which illustrates the relationship among various
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
terms from a production point of view.
Formatted: Default Paragraph Font, English (United
Kingdom)
This document does not include terms which describe the manufacturing or processing methods, or terms
used to quantify fibre and yarn properties.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— — ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obphttps://www.iso.org/obp
Formatted: Adjust space between Latin and Asian text,
Adjust space between Asian text and numbers, Tab
— — IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/https://www.electropedia.org/
stops: Not at 0.7 cm + 1.4 cm + 2.1 cm + 2.8 cm +
3.5 cm + 4.2 cm + 4.9 cm + 5.6 cm + 6.3 cm + 7 cm
3.1 Terms related to fibres
Formatted: Adjust space between Latin and Asian text,
Adjust space between Asian text and numbers, Tab
3.1.1 3.1.1
stops: Not at 0.71 cm
textile fibre
Formatted: TermNum3, Adjust space between Latin and
material characterized by its flexibility, fineness and high ratio of length to cross-section, suitable for textile
Asian text, Adjust space between Asian text and
applications
numbers
3.1.2 3.1.2
staple fibre
textile fibre (3.1.1)(Error! Reference source not found.) of limited length
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
3.1.3 3.1.3
filament
textile fibre (3.1.1)(Error! Reference source not found.) of very great length considered as continuous
Formatted: Adjust space between Latin and Asian text,
Adjust space between Asian text and numbers, Tab
Note 1 to entry: Filament includes monofilament and multifilament.
stops: Not at 0.7 cm + 1.4 cm + 2.1 cm + 2.8 cm +
3.5 cm + 4.2 cm + 4.9 cm + 5.6 cm + 6.3 cm + 7 cm
3.1.4 3.1.4
textile film
Formatted: TermNum3, Adjust space between Latin and
textile material in film form in which the molecular orientation is essentially in the longitudinal direction Asian text, Adjust space between Asian text and
numbers
Formatted: Footer, Left, Space After: 0 pt, Line spacing:
single, Tab stops: Not at 17.2 cm
ISO/PRF 8159:2025(en)
Formatted: Font: Bold
Formatted: HeaderCentered
3.1.5 3.1.5
tow
large number of filaments (3.1.3)(Error! Reference source not found.) assembled without substantial twist
Formatted: Font: Not Italic, English (United Kingdom)
usually intended to be cut and/or stretch-broken for use in staple fibre (3.1.2) or top (3.1.8)(Error! Reference
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
source not found.) or top (Error! Reference source not found.) form
Note 1 to entry: Tow is for man-made staple fibres.
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
Formatted: Adjust space between Latin and Asian text,
3.1.6 3.1.6
Adjust space between Asian text and numbers, Tab
staple in bulk
stops: Not at 0.7 cm + 1.4 cm + 2.1 cm + 2.8 cm +
disordered mass of staple fibres (3.1.2)(Error! Reference source not found.)
3.5 cm + 4.2 cm + 4.9 cm + 5.6 cm + 6.3 cm + 7 cm
3.1.7 3.1.7 Formatted: TermNum3, Adjust space between Latin and
Asian text, Adjust space between Asian text and
card web
numbers
thin disordered layer of fibres held together by frictional forces
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
3.1.8 3.1.8
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
sliver
top
Formatted: Regular, Font: Bold
indefinitely long assembly of staple fibres (3.1.2),(Error! Reference source not found.), substantially parallel
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
and without twist, and capable of being drafted
3.1.9 3.1.9
flock
very short fibres destined to be stuck to a backing
Formatted: Adjust space between Latin and Asian text,
3.2 Terms related to yarns
Adjust space between Asian text and numbers, Tab
stops: Not at 0.71 cm
3.2.1 3.2.1
Formatted: TermNum3, Adjust space between Latin and
yarn
Asian text, Adjust space between Asian text and
textile product of substantial length and relatively small cross-section of fibres and/or filaments (3.1.3)(Error!
numbers
Reference source not found.) with or without twist
Formatted: Font: Not Italic, English (United Kingdom)
Note 1 to entry: The ”Yarn”"yarn" is a general term covering all the specific types of yarns.
Formatted: Adjust space between Latin and Asian text,
Adjust space between Asian text and numbers, Tab
3.2.2 3.2.2
stops: Not at 0.7 cm + 1.4 cm + 2.1 cm + 2.8 cm +
roving
3.5 cm + 4.2 cm + 4.9 cm + 5.6 cm + 6.3 cm + 7 cm
indefinitely long assembly of staple fibres (3.1.2),(Error! Reference source not found.), substantially parallel
Formatted: TermNum3, Adjust space between Latin and
with slight twist, but capable of being drafted
Asian text, Adjust space between Asian text and
numbers
3.2.3 3.2.3
spun yarn
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
yarn (3.2.1)(Error! Reference source not found.) made of staple fibres (3.1.2)(Error! Reference source not
Formatted: Font: Not Italic
found.) usually bound together by twist
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
3.2.4 3.2.4
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
bulked spun yarn
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
spun yarn (3.2.3)(Error! Reference source not found.) in which additional bulkiness has been developed by
means of chemical and/or thermal treatment
Formatted: English (United Kingdom)
Formatted: Font: Not Italic
3.2.5 3.2.5
filament yarn Formatted: Font: Not Italic, English (United Kingdom)
yarn (3.2.1)(Error! Reference source not found.) composed of one filament (3.1.3)(Error! Reference
Formatted: Font: Not Italic, English (United Kingdom)
source not found.) (monofilament) or more filaments (3.1.3)(Error! Reference source not found.)
Formatted: Font: 11 pt
(multifilament) with or without twist
Formatted: FooterPageNumber, Space Before: 0 pt,
Line spacing: single
2 © ISO #### 2025 – All rights reserved
ISO/DISPRF 8159:2025(en)
Formatted: Font: Bold
Formatted: HeaderCentered, Left, Line spacing: single
Formatted: Font: Bold
3.2.6 3.2.6
textured filament yarn
monofilament yarn or multifilament yarn characterized by twist and/or crimp by which it has, or can develop
by after-treatment, stretch and/or bulk-properties
[SOURCE: ISO 8160:1987, 2.1, modified — monofilament yarn or multifilament yarn replacingwas used to
Formatted: Font: Not Italic
replace multi- or monofilament yarn]
Formatted: Font: Not Italic
3.2.7 3.2.7
Formatted: Font: Not Italic, English (United Kingdom)
tape yarn
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.