Etymology Dictionary

ULTRAMONTANE,  beyond the Alps.  (F.,—Ital.,—L.)   'Ultramontanes, a name given by the Italians to all people living on the hither side of the Alps, who, with respect to their country, are beyond those mountains;' Phillips, ed. 1706.   'He is an ultramontane;' Bacon, Observations on a Libel (R.)—F. ultramontain, applied by the French to the Italians themselves, as being beyond the Alps from the French side, and in use as early as the 14th cent. (Littré).   This is also the E. view of the word, which is used with reference to the Italians, esp. to those who hold extreme views as to the Pope's supremacy.—Ital. oltramontano, beyond the mountains; Low Lat. ultramontanus, coined in imitation of classical Lat. tramontanus.—Lat. ultra, beyond; and mont-, stem of mons, a mountain; with suffix -anus.   See Ultra- and Mountain.   And see Tramontane.   Der. ultramontan-ist, -ism.