Origin: Latin suffix -ment
Abutment has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
point of contact between two objects or parts
a masonry support that touches and directly receives thrust or pressure of an arch or bridge
The point of junction between two things, in particular a support, that abuts.
The word abutment comes from the Old French aboutement, which is equivalent to the English words abut and -ment. It was first recorded in 1644, with its specific engineering meaning appearing later in 1793.