What is the term for "metes and bounds" descriptions?

"Metes and bounds" is a type of legal land description used in real estate that outlines the boundaries of a property using physical landmarks and measurements. This method relies on a detailed description of the perimeter of a parcel of land, often using various points of reference such as trees, rivers, or roads, combined with specific distances.

Describing metes and bounds as "unsystematic descriptions" is accurate because it does not follow a strict, standardized grid or coordinate system like other forms of land description, such as a lot-and-block or rectangular survey system. Instead, it is tailored to the unique characteristics of the land, reflecting a more informal or less structured approach compared to systematic methods.

This term highlights the flexibility and adaptability of metes and bounds to various landscapes and property lines but also indicates that such descriptions can sometimes be ambiguous, relying heavily on the clarity of the physical features and distances specified. Given this understanding of how metes and bounds operate, referring to them as unsystematic aptly captures their nature.