SQUARE

10 definitions found across Law Mind sources

SQUAREAuthored
The Law Mind • 897 words
Definition
In property and municipal law, a square is a defined portion of land within a city or town, typically bounded on all sides by streets or public ways. The term carries two related but distinct legal uses: 1. Public square: A parcel of land dedicated to public use — whether for free passage, recreation, or ornamental and civic purposes. Such a dedication removes the land from private ownership and subjects it to public rights of access and use. 2. Urban subdivision square: A block or subdivision of territory within a municipality bounded on all sides by principal streets. In this sense, a "square" is the unit of land lying between intersecting streets — roughly equivalent to what is commonly called a "city block" in modern usage.
Common Language
Modern common usage (Wiktionary): A polygon with four straight sides of equal length and four right angles; also, more broadly, an open area or plaza in a town or city. Historical common usage (Webster's 1913): "An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side; sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or area for public use." The legal meaning of "square" as a unit of municipal subdivision — the territory enclosed by surrounding principal streets — is narrower and more technical than the common sense of an open plaza or public gathering place. A legal square may be entirely built up with private structures; it need not be open land. This distinction matters when reading deeds, plats, or municipal ordinances that use "square" to describe a bounded land unit rather than a public open space.
Recognized Forms
/SUBTYPES Public Square: Land expressly dedicated or reserved for public use, including passage, recreation, or civic ornamentation. Dedication may be formal (by recorded plat) or implied by long public use. The legal consequences of a public square dedication differ materially from a simple municipal land designation — dedicated land cannot ordinarily be reclaimed by the dedicator without specific legal process. Subdivision Square: The territorial block bounded on all sides by principal streets, used as a unit of reference in property descriptions and municipal regulations. Courts have applied this meaning when construing instruments that divide ownership or assign responsibility "within" or "by" the square.
Why It Matters in Research
Researchers working with historical deeds, municipal ordinances, plats, and property disputes will encounter "square" in both senses, sometimes within the same document and without clear disambiguation. Misreading a subdivision square as a public square — or vice versa — can fundamentally distort the nature of a property interest described in a historical source. In older American cities, lots were frequently described by square number and lot number within the square, a system derived from original city surveys and plats. Many 19th-century instruments in cities like Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and various Kentucky municipalities use "square" as the primary geographic unit in property descriptions. Researchers must identify the applicable city survey system to interpret these references accurately. The dedication question is the more legally consequential issue. Once land is dedicated as a public square, the dedicating owner typically loses the right to reclaim it, and the public acquires easement rights or fee title depending on jurisdiction and the nature of the dedication. Anderson's citation to the dedication doctrine is the correct analytical path when a "public square" designation is at issue. Corpus researchers should note that older case law and statutes may use "square" in ways that reflect local survey conventions rather than universal legal doctrine. The term is not defined uniformly across jurisdictions, and its meaning in a given case must be read against the local plat or municipal framework in effect at the time.
Historical Dictionary Support
All three historical dictionaries treat "square" as a municipal land-use and property description term, consistent with each other's general thrust, though with different emphasis. Black's (2nd Ed.) gestures toward the municipal subdivision meaning but the surviving text is fragmentary, making it the least useful of the three for this entry. Anderson's offers the most developed treatment. It cleanly separates the public dedication meaning from the subdivision block meaning, cites supporting Kentucky and New York authority, and correctly anchors the dedication analysis to the broader DEDICATION doctrine. The citation to Redman v. Forman, 83 Ky. 214 (1885), for the "each fourth of a square" subdivision interpretation, is the most precise judicial authority in the historical dictionary record on this term. Bouvier's is brief but consistent, confirming that a square is properly understood as "each subdivision of territory bounded on all sides by principal streets" — the block meaning — with citation support. None of the historical dictionaries address the question of what happens when a public square is later vacated or converted to private use, which is a significant gap for researchers dealing with municipal land-use history or urban redevelopment questions.
Jurisdictional Note
The subdivision-square meaning is most prevalent in cities with formal grid survey systems laid out in the 18th and 19th centuries. The legal significance of a "public square" dedication — and the rights that attach — varies by state, particularly whether dedication vests fee title in the municipality or merely an easement in the public. Researchers should not assume uniform treatment across states.
Related Terms
DEDICATION BLOCK PLAT LOT PUBLIC USE EASEMENT MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SURVEY
SQUAREmain
Black's Law Dictionary (2nd Ed.) • 1910
As used to designate a certain portion of land within the Hmits of a city or Webster. A
SQUAREmain
Anderson's Dictionary of Law • 1890
A dedication of land to public use as a square, means for free passage or for ornamentation and improvement. See DEDICATION, 1. In the expression "owners in each fourth of a square," means each subdivision of the territory bounded on all sides by principal streets. Redman v. Forman, 83 Ky. 214 (1885). * Bloodgood v. Ayers, 108 N. Y. 405 (1888), cases. [Kirby v. State, 1 Ohio St. 187 (1853), Corwin, J. Methodist Epis. Church v. Hoboken, 33 N. J. L. 17 (1868). See also Abbott v. Cottage City, 143 Mass. 52326 (1887), cases. • Caldwell v. Rupert, 10 Bush, 181 (1873). Square yard. In a contract for removing earth, held to mean "cubic yard."1
SQUAREmain
Bouvier's Law Dictionary • 1928
Each subdivision of terri- tory bounded on all sides by principal streets should be deemed a "square." 161 171 S. W. 396; 8 Bush (Ky.) 508.
SQUAREn.
Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913) • 1913
The corner, or angle, of a figure. [Obs.] A parallelogram having four equal sides and four right angles. Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so; as: A square piece or fragment. He bolted his food down his capacious throat in squares of three inches. Sir W. Scott. A pane of glass. An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side; sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of two or more streets. The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town. Addison. An instrument having at least one right angle and two or more straight edges, used to lay out or test square work. It is of several forms, as the T square, the carpenter's square, the try-square., etc. Hence, a pattern or rule. [Obs.] The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8 × 8 = 64; the square of a + b is a2 + 2ab + b2. Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule. [Obs.] They of Galatia [were] much more out of square. Hooker. I have not kept my square. Shak. A body of troops formed in a square, esp. one formed to resist a charge of cavalry; a squadron. "The brave squares of war." Shak. Fig.: The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level. We live not on the square with such as these. Dryden. The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate. [Obs.] The act of squaring, or quarreling; a quarrel. [R.] The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered. [Obs.] Shak. Geometrical square. See Quadrat, n., 2. -- Hollow square (Mil.), a formation of troops in the shape of a square, each side consisting of four or five ranks, and the colors, officers, horses, etc., occupying the middle. -- Least square, Magic square, etc. See under Least, Magic, etc. -- On the square, or Upon the square, in an open, fair manner; honestly, or upon honor. [Obs. or Colloq.] -- On, or Upon, the square with, upon equality with; even with. Nares. -- To be all squares, to be all settled. [Colloq.] Dickens. -- To be at square, to be in a state of quarreling. [Obs.] Nares. -- To break no square, to give no offense; to make no difference. [Obs.] -- To break squares, to depart from an accustomed order. To see how the squares go, to see how the game proceeds; -- a phrase taken from the game of chess, the chessboard being formed with squares. [Obs.] L'Estrange.
SQUAREa.
Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913) • 1913
Having four equal sides and four right angles; as, a square figure. Forming a right angle; as, a square corner. Having a shape broad for the height, with rectilineal and angular rather than curving outlines; as, a man of a square frame. Exactly suitable or correspondent; true; just. She's a most truimphant lady, if report be square to her. Shak. Rendering equal justice; exact; fair; honest, as square dealing. Even; leaving no balance; as, to make or leave the accounts square. Leaving nothing; hearty; vigorous. By Heaven, square eaters. More meat, I say. Beau. & Fl. At right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; -- said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced.
SQUAREv.
Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913) • 1913
To form with four sides and four right angles. Spenser. To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces; as, to square mason's work. To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard. Shak. To adjust; to regulate; to mold; to shape; to fit; as, to square our actions by the opinions of others. Square my trial To my proportioned strength. Milton. To make even, so as leave no remainder of difference; to balance; as, to square accounts. To multiply by itself; as, to square a number or a quantity. To hold a quartile position respecting. The icy Goat and Crab that square the Scales. Creech. To place at right angles with the keel; as, to square the yards. To square one's shoulders, to raise the shoulders so as to give them a square appearance, -- a movement expressing contempt or dislike. Sir W. Scott. -- To square the circle (Math.), to determine the exact contents of a circle in square measure. The solution of this famous problem is now generally admitted to be impossible.
squarenoun
Wiktionary (English) • 2026
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A polygon with four straight sides of equal length and four right angles; an equilateral rectangle; a regular quadrilateral. | Something characterized by a square, or nearly square, form. | A cell in a grid. | Something characterized by a square, or nearly square, form. | A square piece, part, or surface. | Something characterized by a square, or nearly square, form. | The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered. | Something characterized by a square, or nearly square, form. | A dessert cut into rectangular pieces, or a piece of such a dessert. | Something characterized by a square, or nearly square, form. | A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers. | An L- or T-shaped tool used to place objects or draw lines at right angles. | An L- or T-shaped tool used to place objects or draw lines at right angles. | A true measure, standard, or pattern. | An open space or park, often in the center of a town, not necessarily square in shape, often containing trees, seating and other features pleasing to the eye. | An open space or park, often in the center of a town, not necessarily square in shape, often containing trees, seating and other features pleasing to the eye. | A street surrounding a public square or plaza. | The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; the second power of a number, value, term or expression. | A pattern to be matched that consists of a subpattern repeated, such as "papa" or "wikiwiki". | A body of troops drawn up in a square formation. | A socially conventional or conservative person; a person who has little or no interest in the latest fads or trends. | The symbol # on a telephone; hash. | The central area of a cricket field, with one or more pitches of which only one is used at a time. | A unit of measurement of area, equal to a 10 foot by 10 foot square, i.e. 100 square feet or roughly 9.3 square metres. Used in real estate for the size of a house or its rooms, though progressively being replaced by square metres in metric countries such as Australia. | A unit used in measuring roof area equivalent to 100 square feet (9.29 m²) of roof area. The materials for roofing jobs are often billed by the square in the United States. | A mortarboard. | Ellipsis of square meal. | Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule. | The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level. | The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate. | The act of squaring, or quarrelling; a quarrel. | Cigarette. | A vat used for fermentation. | A well-defined torso.
squareadj
Wiktionary (English) • 2026
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Shaped like a square (the polygon). | Forming a right angle (90°). | Forming a right angle (90°). | Forming right angles in all planes as intended; not racked or leaning. | Forming a right angle (90°). | Forming right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced. | Used in the names of units of area formed by multiplying a unit of length by itself. | Honest; straightforward; fair. | Satisfied; comfortable with; not experiencing any conflict. | Even; tied | Socially conventional; boring. | In line with the batsman's popping crease. | Solid, decent, substantial. | Having a shape broad for the height, with angular rather than curving outlines. | Of an internal combustion engine design, in which the diameter of the piston is similar, roughly, approximately, equal to its stroke distance.
Squarename
Wiktionary (English) • 2026
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A surname.

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