'abut' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'abouter', where 'a-' meant 'to' and 'bouter' meant 'to strike or push'.

'abouter' transformed into the Middle English word 'abuten', and eventually became the modern English word 'abut'.

Initially, it meant 'to strike against', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to be adjacent to'.