Terminology 101: Telling The Difference Between Pipe Cake and Chocolate Cake

If you are new to smoking pipes, there are certain terms that you need to know in regards to your pipe. Here is a basic list:

Bowl: The main part of the pipe where tobacco is burned.
Briar (or Brier or Bruyere): Mediterranian Root. See Lesson 101 for more information
Cake: Carbon build-up on the inside of your bowl. This builds up over time and helps insulate the pipe, causing it to smoke cooler and also protect the wood from burning.
Cob: Slang term for a pipe made out of a corn cob. See Lesson 101 for more information.
Churchwarden: General term for a pipe with a long (8" or longer) stem.
Draw: How the air pulls through the pipe.
Lucite: An acrylic used for pipe stems. Tends to be hard, but does not oxidize like Vulcanite and can also come in multiple colors and swirls.
Meerschaum: A soft white stone used for making pipes. See Lesson 101 for more information.
Nosewarmer: Pipe with an extremely short stem, thus keeping the burning ember close to the face and "warming" the nose.
Reaming: The scraping out of cake from the inside of the bowl when it becomes too thick.
Shank: The part of the pipe that extends from the bowl to meet the stem.
Stem: The part of the pipe that goes from the shank to your mouth.
Tamping: The physical act of pushing the loose ash down inside the bowl to help also push the ember down to the next level of tobacco.
Vulcanite: Hardened rubber used for pipe stems. Will oxidize over time, but is softer than Lucite and therefore is easier to clench.

For more information in regards to pipe shapes, see ASPipes' Pipe Shape Chart as this site has the best listing I've seen.

Currently listening to: All Things Must Pass by George Harrison.