Bible Encyclopedias
Abutment

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

is the solid part of a pier or wall, etc., against which an arch abuts, or from which it immediately springs, acting as support to the thrust or lateral pressure. The abutments of a bridge are the walls adjoining to the land which support the ends of the roadway or the arches the extremities; also the basement projecting, to resist the force of the stream and on which the piers rest.