Located on this side of the Alps, especially referring to the Italian side or areas between Italy and the rest of Europe.
From Latin 'cis-' meaning on this side of, plus 'alpinus' referring to the Alps. Romans used this geographical term to distinguish lands on their side of the Alps from transalpine regions.
Romans gave us this geographical direction word because the Alps were a massive barrier—'cisalpine' meant 'our side' and 'transalpine' meant 'their side,' and these words shaped how Europeans thought about geography for centuries.
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