Short for the Rocky Mountains, the major mountain range stretching from Canada through the western United States; also used as the name of sports teams like the Colorado Rockies.
From 'rocky' (containing or composed of rocks, from Old Norse 'rokkr'), the mountains were named by early explorers and fur traders who were struck by their rock-filled, rugged terrain.
The Rocky Mountains profoundly shaped North American history—they created a barrier that divided the continent, influenced westward expansion routes, and their discovery led to the fur trade that built early colonial economies.
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