Promontory

Promontory

A promontory is a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water (when it may be called a peninsula or headland).

Most promontories are formed either from a hard ridge of rock that has resisted the erosive forces that have removed the softer rock each side of it, or are the high ground that remains between two river valleys where they form a confluence.Fact|date=May 2007

Throughout history many forts and castles have been built upon promontories because of their natural defensive properties. The promontory forts in Ireland are an example of this.

A promontory often has a shape resembling that of a nose. This is reflected in the Scottish Highlands, where a number of hills are called Sròn, the Gaelic word for nose.

ee also

*Headlands and bays
*promontory fort
*Law Promontory
*Promontory, Utah
*Promontory Point, Utah
*Wilsons Promontory


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  • Promontory — Prom on*to*ry, n.; pl. {Promontories}. [ L. promonturium, promunturium; pro before + mons, montis, mountain: cf. F. promontoire. See {Mount}, n.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Phys. Geog.) A high point of land or rock projecting into the sea beyond the line …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • promontory — 1540s, from M.L. promontorium, altered (by influence of L. mons mount, hill ) from L. promunturium mountain ridge, headland, probably related to prominere jut out (see PROMINENT (Cf. prominent)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • promontory — [n] headland bluff, cape, cheronese, foreland, jetty, jutty, peninsula, point, ridge; concepts 509,514 …   New thesaurus

  • promontory — ► NOUN (pl. promontories) 1) a point of high land jutting out into the sea or a lake. 2) Anatomy a protuberance on an organ or other bodily structure. ORIGIN Latin promontorium, influenced by mons mountain …   English terms dictionary

  • promontory — [präm′ən tôr΄ē] n. pl. promontories [LL promontorium < L promunturium, prob. altered (infl. by mons, MOUNT1) < prominere: see PROMINENT] 1. a peak of high land that juts out into a body of water; headland 2. Anat. a prominent part …   English World dictionary

  • promontory — Doubling Dou bling, n. 1. The act of one that doubles; a making double; reduplication; also, that which is doubled. [1913 Webster] 2. A turning and winding; as, the doubling of a hunted hare; shift; trick; artifice. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 3. (Her …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • promontory — [[t]prɒ̱məntri, AM tɔːri[/t]] promontories N COUNT A promontory is a cliff that stretches out into the sea. ...a promontory jutting out into the bay …   English dictionary

  • promontory — UK [ˈprɒmənt(ə)rɪ] / US [ˈprɑmənˌtɔrɪ] noun [countable] Word forms promontory : singular promontory plural promontories a narrow piece of land that sticks out into the sea …   English dictionary

  • promontory — prom|on|to|ry [ˈprɔməntəri US ˈpra:mənto:ri] n plural promontories [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: promonturium] a long narrow piece of land which sticks out into the sea ▪ a rocky promontory …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • promontory — noun a lone beacon shone from the promontory Syn: headland, point, cape, head, foreland, horn, bill, peninsula …   Thesaurus of popular words

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