Whether you’re completely new to sea glass hunting or you’ve been searching beaches for years, you’ll come across terms that might leave you scratching your head. This glossary explains the most common sea glass, beachcombing and coastal terms you’ll encounter.
A
Aqua
A pale blue-green colour of sea glass is often associated with vintage mineral water bottles, medicine bottles and decorative glassware. Considered uncommon and highly collectable.
B
Beachcombing
The activity of searching beaches for interesting natural and man-made objects, including sea glass, pottery, fossils, shells and driftwood.
Bonfire Glass
Glass that has been melted and distorted by intense heat, usually from beach fires or old rubbish tips. Often colourful and collectable, but technically not true sea glass.
Bottle Base
The bottom section of a bottle. These pieces are often thicker than regular sea glass and can reveal the age or origin of the original bottle.
C
Cobble
A larger, rounded stone is found on some beaches. Bigger than pebbles and often mixed amongst shingle.
Cullet
Waste glass from manufacturing processes. Many famous sea glass beaches, including Seaham, contain cullet from historic glassworks.
D
Drift Line
Another term for a wrack line or strandline.
E
Ebb Tide
The period when the tide is falling and moving away from the shore. Often considered one of the best times for sea glass hunting.
End-of-Day Glass
A nickname for Seaham’s famous multi-coloured sea glass, created when glassworkers discarded leftover mixed batches of molten glass.
F
Flood Tide
The period when the tide is rising and moving back towards the shore.
Frosting
The cloudy, matte appearance that develops on genuine sea glass after years of tumbling in the sea.
G
Glassworks
A factory where glass is manufactured. Beaches near former glassworks often produce exceptional sea glass.
Groyne
A wooden, stone or metal structure built perpendicular to the shoreline to reduce coastal erosion. Sea glass often accumulates around groynes.
Groyne Bay
The section of beach between two groynes.
H
Harbour Glass
Sea glass is found near historic harbours and ports. Often associated with maritime history and older finds.
High Tide
The point at which the sea reaches its highest level.
J
Jewellery Grade
Sea glass with excellent shape, colour, frosting and smoothness suitable for jewellery making.
L
Longshore Drift
The natural movement of sand, pebbles and sea glass along a coastline caused by wave action.
Low Tide
The point at which the sea reaches its lowest level.
M
Marble Grade
Exceptionally rounded sea glass with almost perfect tumbling.
Milk Glass
Opaque white glass is often found as sea glass. Usually originates from decorative glassware and tableware.
Multi
A multi-coloured piece of sea glass, particularly associated with Seaham. One of the most sought-after finds.
N
Neap Tide
Smaller tides that occur between spring tides. Generally move less material and often produce fewer finds.
P
Pebble Ridge
A raised bank of pebbles created by wave action. Often one of the most productive areas on a beach.
Pirate Glass
Very dark sea glass that appears black until held up to bright sunlight.
Pitting
Tiny dimples and surface marks created by years of abrasion in the sea.
Pocket Beach
A small beach enclosed by headlands or cliffs. These often trap sea glass effectively.
R
Rare Colour
A colour of sea glass found far less frequently than common white, green or brown glass. Examples include red, orange and turquoise.
Rock Pool
Pools of seawater left behind as the tide retreats. Sea glass can collect around their edges and crevices.
S
Sea Glass
Naturally weathered glass that has been shaped and frosted by years of wave action.
Sea Glass Score
Our proprietary rating system that helps identify the best conditions for finding sea glass based on tides, weather, moon phases and other factors.
Sea Pottery
Fragments of ceramic items such as plates, cups and bowls that have been naturally tumbled by the sea.
Shingle
A beach made predominantly of pebbles rather than sand.
Spring Tide
The largest tides of the month, occurring around the full moon and new moon.
Strandline
The line of seaweed, shells and debris left behind by the previous high tide.
Storm Window
The period immediately after a storm when newly exposed sea glass may be easier to find.
T
Tumble
The natural process of glass being rolled and smoothed by waves, sand and pebbles.
Tide Line
The visible boundary marking the previous reach of the tide.
U
Uranium Glass
Historic glass containing small amounts of uranium that glows bright green under UV light.
W
Wave Action
The movement of waves that shapes beaches and tumbles sea glass.
Wrack
Seaweed and natural debris deposited by the tide.
Wrack Line
The line of seaweed, shells, driftwood and debris left behind by the previous high tide. One of the first places many sea glass hunters check.
Y
Yellow Sea Glass
One of the rarer colours of sea glass, often originating from decorative glassware and vintage bottles.