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τραμουντάνα η [tramundána]: (ναυτ.) ο βόρειος άνεμος· βοριάς. || το άστρο της τραμουντάνας, ο πολικός αστέρας.
[μσν. τραμουντάνα < ιταλ. tramontana ( [o > u] από επίδρ. του χειλ. [m] )]
tramontane, a. and n. (trəˈmɒntən, træmɒnˈteɪn)
Forms: 4 tramountayne, 7 -mountain, -montan, (6–8 -ain, 9 -aine), 6– tramontane; also in It. forms, 7–9 tramontana, 6–8 (pl.) tramontani; Lat. pl. 7 tramontanæ. See also transmontane.
[ad. It. tramontana north wind, pole-star, tramontani ‘those folkes that dwell beyond the mountaines’ Florio (= Sp., Pg. tramontana north wind, sunset), whence also Fr. tramontane north wind, pole-star, OF. tramontane (n. and adj. (13th c.) north wind, tresmontaine pole-star:—L. transmontānus beyond the mountains, f. trans across, beyond + mons, mont-em mountain: cf. montān-us of or belonging to mountains.]
A. adjective
1 Dwelling or situated beyond, or pertaining to the far side of, the mountains (orig. and in reference to Italy, the Alps; in quots. 1806, 1840, referring to other mountains); hence, foreign; in quot. 1662 = occupied by a non-Italian.
b. With the connotation ‘uncouth, unpolished, barbarous’. Now rare.
2. Of the wind: Coming across or from beyond the mountains; spec. in reference to Italy, Blowing from beyond the Alps: cf. B. 2.
B. noun
†1. The north pole-star: originally so called in Italy and Provence, because visible beyond the Alps: cf. It. tramontana (Florio 1598), OF. tresmontaine (c 1295 in Godefroy). Also fig.
2. In the Mediterranean and esp. in Italy, The north wind, as coming from beyond the Alps; hence generally, a cold wind from a mountain range. (Now usually in Italian form tramontana.)
3. One who dwells beyond the mountains: orig. applied in Italy to foreigners beyond the Alps; also by these nations to the Italians; hence, a stranger, a foreigner; an outsider, barbarian.