Abut

Abut is a verb meaning to touch or lie next to along a border or boundary; to border on or against. It is commonly used to describe how properties, fields, or structures share a common boundary. For example, "The two parcels abut along the river" or "The garden abuts the road." The phrase can be used with or without a preposition, as in "The fields abut the road" or "The hills abut the forest." In some cases, people say a property abuts another, or that two properties abut one another.

Etymology and history: Abut comes from Old French abouter, from a bout meaning at the end or edge. The sense of touching or bordering developed in English usage by the Middle Ages and remains common in modern English.

Usage and related terms: In real estate and property descriptions, abutting or abutting properties are those that share a boundary. Abutment, a related noun, has a separate sense in engineering and construction, referring to the structural support at the ends of a bridge, arch, or dam that transfers load to the ground. In contrast, verbs such as adjoin or border have similar meanings but can carry slightly different connotations or preferred contexts. Abut emphasizes direct contact along a boundary rather than mere proximity.

Examples of use: "The new development abuts a protected park," "The fence abuts the driveway." In legal or planning contexts, precise description of which parcels or features abut each other helps delineate boundaries and rights.