[moun.tain] n, often attrib [ME, fr. OF montaigne, fr. (assumed) VL montanea, fr. fem. of montaneus of a mountain, alter. of L montanus, fr. mont-, mons] (13c) 1 a: a landmass that projects conspicuously above its surroundings and is higher than a hill b: an elongated ridge
2. a: a great mass b: a vast number or quantity "had ~s of work to do"