Abutment

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Abutment \A*but"ment\ ([.a]*b[u^]t"ment), n.
     1. State of abutting.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [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