D.1 Arabic and Bedouin Terms:

Asil: The term in its general Arabic use means of known and esteemed origins. Within the context of the Arabian horse, the term is equivalent to purity.

Atiq: The term carries multiple overlapping meanings. It is ancient, precious, and free [of flaws] all at the same time.  Within the context of the Arabian horse, It encompasses both authenticity and purity.

Eraab: The term is derived from the root Arab and is specifically used for horses and also camels. The direct meaning is of Arab origin.  Classical Arabic dictionaries define the term as precious and free of hujna. 

Hujna: The term in its general Arabic use means admixture with lower quality ingredients. It indicates degradation and flaws. For horses it means crossbreeding to non-Arabian blood.

Marbat: Often translated as sub-strain. In Arabic the word is derived from the verb rabat, to tie, it means a stud, where mares are tied, that can be accepted as a trusted source of a certain strain. A widely celebrated marbat then becomes a branch of the original strain, or a sub-strain.

Rasan: Translated as strain. The original meaning in Arabic is robe, which is used to tie an individual mare. It refers to a certain original mare (or group of mares) that founded a certain family of Asil horses several centuries ago within some foundational marbat’s. Rasan and marbat is a notion that is believed to have been established circa the 12th century AD. 

Shubuw: Breeding using a stallion selected under strict criteria of quality and authenticity. A qualified stallion for shubuw must descend from the most authentic of rasan’s and marbat’s.

Purity: Purity is a cultural rather than a genetic notion. It represents an ideal which the Arab Bedouins always strived to maintain. Purity means free of hujna.

Authenticity: The quality of going back to ancient, preserved, protected Bedouin sources that are assumed to be pure. The term is the nearest English equivalent to the Arabic term atiq.

Certainty: The degree of conviction about the asil status of an individual horse, based on the extent of information available.

Foundation Horse: The horse that marks the transition from the Bedouin breeding within the original homeland and cultural context to modern breeding. Foundation horses form the basis for establishing modern pedigrees within a studbook or a horse database.

Pureblood: See Purity.

Breed Ecosystem: the global system of the Arabian horse breed, mainly consisting of breeding, competitions, registration, trade, and research.