REAL ESTATE TERMS-DEFINITION

The world of real esate can be confusing as it is without understanding the terminology. Although most words, whether in residential or commercial real estate are fairly standardized, world-wide, there are terms that are used that are localized for a region

With that as a reminder, we have tried to compile and extensive list of word, abbreviations, slang and common definition into one area.
In the menu selection you have a choice of a glossary of commercial related real estate terms and a seperate selection for residential real estate..

If you have an interest to know about LAND, then visit our sister web-site THE LANDPRO NETWORKfor everything related to the purchase or sale of land, from single lots to acreage for developers, residential, commercial, industrial and retail development Water Terms

Arroyo
A small steep-walled (usually) dry watercourse with a flat floor. A gulch or gully. Chiefly in the southwest.
Bank
Edge of a stream
Bed and banks
For property lines that cross a body of water, this term is used to explicitly refer to the bottom of the water.
Bottom
Land along a river.
Branch
Small stream
Brook
Small stream.
Creek
Small stream
Drain
Small dry stream or gully
Draughts of
(pronounced drafts)See waters of
Drean
See drain
Ford
Shallow part of a stream or river where one could cross.
Fork
Meeting point of two streams. "In the fork of" means between two branches.
Gut
A narrow passage between hills. A stream in such a passage. A drain
Head
The source of a stream.
Headwaters The smallest streams that combine to make a larger stream.
Kill
(Dutch) Creek.
Lower
Toward the mouth of a stream. Further down along its course. Opposite of upper
Meander
"with the meanders of the stream" means the survey line follows the twists and turns of the stream.
Mouth
The place where a stream enters another, larger stream.
Narrows
Narrow part of a stream.
River
Large stream.
Run
Small stream.
Shoal
Shallows.
Spring
A pool or other source of water that feeds a stream.
Swamp
In the southeastern , a stream, particularly one that has has swampy parts. A marsh.
Thalweg
1. An imaginary line connecting the lowest points of a valley. 2. The line connecting the lowest points of a stream's channel. 3. The surface midline of a channel.
Upper
Toward the head of a stream. Further up along its course. Opposite of lower.
Vly
(Dutch) Swampy lowland.
Waters ("watters") of
In the drainage of. On the branches of. Sources

You can find definitions for most of these units, terms, and words in any good unabridged dictionary. There are also books dealing with units of measure and surveying

Wm. Johnston, "For Good Measure".

Untitled. Book listing State and Federal Laws relating to measures.

Funk & Wagnall's Unabridged Dictionary, 1963

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1959

Oxford English Dictionary

Robert's Dictionnaire de la Langue Francaise, 1979

Discussions with Mr. Galtjo Geertsema, Land Surveyor; Ms. Patricia Law Hatcher, lecturer on land records.

"Land and Property Research in the U.S", Wade Hone, 1997

Contributions from surveyors.