ben
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Mountain is the general English word for a high natural rise of land. Hill usually suggests something lower or gentler, though the boundary is not exact. Peak often points to the top point rather than the whole landform. Ben is different because it is regional: it belongs to Scottish geography and often appears in fixed names such as Ben Nevis or Ben Lomond. In ordinary learner English, you normally say mountain unless the established Scottish name itself uses ben. So 'They climbed a mountain near the village' is general English, but 'They climbed Ben Nevis' keeps the traditional Scottish name.
Etymology
This word goes back to an Old English form meaning 'inside' or 'within'. In Scottish use, that older form survived as ben for being or moving indoors, and it also became a noun used in the names of Scottish mountains.
First known use
15th century
15th century, in the meaning defined above Preposition