2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Abutment  \A*but"ment\  ([.a]*b[u^]t"ment),  n. 
  1.  State  of  abutting. 
 
  2.  That  on  or  against  which  a  body  abuts  or  presses;  as 
  a  (Arch.)  The  solid  part  of  a  pier  or  wall,  etc.,  which 
  receives  the  thrust  or  lateral  pressure  of  an  arch, 
  vault,  or  strut.  --Gwilt. 
  b  (Mech.)  A  fixed  point  or  surface  from  which  resistance 
  or  reaction  is  obtained,  as  the  cylinder  head  of  a 
  steam  engine,  the  fulcrum  of  a  lever,  etc 
  c  In  breech-loading  firearms,  the  block  behind  the 
  barrel  which  receives  the  pressure  due  to  recoil. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  abutment 
  n  1:  point  of  contact  between  two  objects  or  parts 
  2:  a  masonry  support  that  touches  and  directly  receives  thrust 
  or  pressure  of  an  arch  or  bridge 

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