landmark

Landmark, n.

Etymology: [AS. landmearc. See Land, and Mark a sign.]

1. A mark to designate the boundary of land; any , mark or fixed object (as a marked tree, a stone, a ditch, or a heap of stones) by which the limits of a farm, a town, or other portion of territory may be known and preserved.

2. Any conspicuous object on land that serves as a guide; some prominent object, as a hill or steeple. Landmarks of history, important events by which eras or conditions are determined.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for landmark; he lists it under boundary.

Where he writes about it:

The boundary was originally the landmark, that which marked off one piece of territory from another. — from boundary

Synonyms

boundary barrier border bound bourn bourne confines edge enclosure frontier limit line marches marge margin term termination verge

Antonyms

center citadel estate inside interior land region territory

etymology Webster’s online