promontory
n. countablen. a high, steep piece of land that sticks out into the water. It is like a large cliff or a tall hill that looks over the sea.
n. a high, steep, or precipitous piece of land projecting into the sea or a large body of water. Often used in geological or maritime contexts to describe a prominent headland.
The lighthouse stands on a high promontory overlooking the coast.
The ship anchored safely in the bay, protected from the storm by the massive promontory on the western shore.
The ancient ruins were discovered atop a rugged promontory, suggesting that the settlement was chosen for its defensive advantages and panoramic views of the surrounding archipelago.
From Medieval Latin prōmontōrium, from prōmineō, from prō- + mineō (“to project or jut”, from Proto-Indo-European men- (“to stand out”)) + -tōrium (“place”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 30, 2026