Lines that mark the limits of an area; dividing lines between different territories, concepts, or behaviors.
From Old French 'bodne' (later 'borne'), meaning a landmark or boundary marker. Related to Medieval Latin 'bodina' and ultimately to a Germanic root meaning 'sign' or 'beacon.' The concept evolved from physical markers to abstract limits.
Originally, boundaries were literal physical objects - stones, posts, or other markers placed in the landscape to show where one territory ended and another began. This physical origin explains why we still talk about 'crossing boundaries' and 'boundary markers' even in abstract contexts like personal relationships or professional ethics.
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