Monte

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈmɒnti/

Definitions

1. A natural elevation in the form of a high hill or mountain may also describe a gambling game commonly found in casinos, as well as a strategic card game that involves elements of chance
2. The term can represent a steep landform similar to a mountain while signifying a popular casino gambling game that tests luck, in addition to being a card game that incorporates both strategy and chance
3. A landform that rises significantly above its surroundings can also refer to a gambling activity, typically involving risk and chance, as well as a card game that requires a mix of strategy and luck

Etymology: The English noun "monte" for a tall, steep hill was borrowed from Spanish, where "monte" means "mountain." It is the same word that gives English "mount" and "mountain," but the two arrived by different routes: "mount" came through French from Latin, while this form came straight from Spanish, which is why it looks so foreign next to its cousins. The Spanish word also gave English a card game. In the game, the "monte" is the stack of unplayed cards left face-down on the table, the pile from which players draw, so the same root that means a mountain here names a heap of cards. The link between a towering peak and a card pile is a metaphor of size and height, a reminder that a word's sense can travel a long way from its original picture.