When is a hill not a hill

[duke3016]

What is the definition of a hill, and when does it become a mountain. Scholars differ on this and it intrigues me. Encyclopaedia Britannica has no real geographical definition that I can find. The better webmasters of you lot could probably find one.

Now I always understood a mountain to be classed as over 2,000 feet and have a "definable" summit. However in America this is somewhat lower, so low in fact that if an average American lay on his back his belly would be classed as a mountain.

So come on all you scholars and answer these important questions

1.   Definition of  a Hill
2.   Definition of  a mountain
3.   When does a hill become a mountain ?
4.   When does a gentle slope become a hill ?  

It's bugging me !!!

[Jon MW]

Everything I know I learnt from films - The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain - which I think says 1000ft

[HaworthBantam]

My understanding was that any peak of 3,000 feet or more is deemed a mountain.

I seem to remember seeing somewhere recently, however, that some official body in the UK has deemed anything over 600 metres as a mountain, which works out at 1,968 (plus a few inches) feet.

[lukybugur]

My understanding was that any peak of 3,000 feet or more is deemed a mountain.

Unless it"s on the good side of the border, then it"s a Munro

[Mayfair]

IIRC Griff Rees Jones said this week on his mountain show that a mountain in the uk was over 600m . It was defined in some law concerning walkers/ramblers rights.

The first google hit (so it must be true) on "uk mountain definition" threw up
this http://www.go4awalk.com/mountains/.


--
Mayfa1r

[Santino67]

Isn"t a mountain when you have a nut flush but your opponent has a full house  

[kinboshi]

My understanding was that any peak of 3,000 feet or more is deemed a mountain.

I seem to remember seeing somewhere recently, however, that some official body in the UK has deemed anything over 600 metres as a mountain, which works out at 1,968 (plus a few inches) feet.

It"s like what defines a "city".  In the UK, this is different to what defines a city in other countries.

For me though, a mountain is what the missus makes out of a molehill.

[evilpie]

I anyone manages to answer this question logically could they also please find out the following:

1.  Definition of a boat
2.  Definition of a ship
3.  When does a boat become a ship ?
4.  When does a ship become a liner?

This has bugged me for years.

Doesn"t bug me quite so much now because I"ve got the whole hill/mountain thing to occupy my mind but nevertheless an answer would be nice.

[Jon MW]

I anyone manages to answer this question logically could they also please find out the following:

1.  Definition of a boat
2.  Definition of a ship
3.  When does a boat become a ship ?
4.  When does a ship become a liner?

This has bugged me for years.

Doesn"t bug me quite so much now because I"ve got the whole hill/mountain thing to occupy my mind but nevertheless an answer would be nice.

I don"t think there"s a proper definition just that a ship is a big boat.

But a liner is a ship that travels a "line" - i.e. a regular route (that might be regular as in once a year - but it"s still regular).

[HaworthBantam]

I anyone manages to answer this question logically could they also please find out the following:

1.  Definition of a boat
2.  Definition of a ship
3.  When does a boat become a ship ?
4.  When does a ship become a liner?

This has bugged me for years.

Doesn"t bug me quite so much now because I"ve got the whole hill/mountain thing to occupy my mind but nevertheless an answer would be nice.

I don"t think there"s a proper definition just that a ship is a big boat.

But a liner is a ship that travels a "line" - i.e. a regular route (that might be regular as in once a year - but it"s still regular).

This is a question I asked my dad many years ago when I was a slip of a lad - he was ex Royal Navy and used to talk about boats and ships, hence my question at the time.

His answer at the time was that if a vessel can be carried by another vessel, then it"s a boat. If it cannot be carried by another vessel then it"s a ship. I suppose size would come into this as well. He also mentioned that the US navy had a different definition, but I can"t remember what it was.

Jon"s definition of liner is spot on.

[billyho10]

everyday is a school day!  

[Jon MW]

...

His answer at the time was that if a vessel can be carried by another vessel, then it"s a boat. If it cannot be carried by another vessel then it"s a ship. ...

So what ship would this boat be carried on?  



I have heard that definition before - but this is the reason why I"d stick to my guns by saying that their isn"t a proper definition.

[HaworthBantam]

...

His answer at the time was that if a vessel can be carried by another vessel, then it"s a boat. If it cannot be carried by another vessel then it"s a ship. ...

So what ship would this boat be carried on?  



I have heard that definition before - but this is the reason why I"d stick to my guns by saying that their isn"t a proper definition.

, that would be an American vessel, yes ? As I said, the US navy have a different definition that I can"t remember....  

[AMRN]

Sorry, you"re all missing the critical and most fundamental difference between a boat and a ship, that being the fact that you would sound really silly if you won a big hand in a poker game and stood up to shout "BOAT IT"!!

It"s obvious really!!!

[Jon MW]

...

His answer at the time was that if a vessel can be carried by another vessel, then it"s a boat. If it cannot be carried by another vessel then it"s a ship. ...

So what ship would this boat be carried on?  



I have heard that definition before - but this is the reason why I"d stick to my guns by saying that their isn"t a proper definition.

, that would be an American vessel, yes ? As I said, the US navy have a different definition that I can"t remember....  

I don"t think the US Navy have many paddle boats in their fleet though