Derived from the Latin word “Alpinus,” it translates to “of the Alps” or “relating to the Alps.” The Alps, a significant European mountain range, serves as the cornerstone for this name’s meaning. The term itself has evolved from the Latin “Alpes,” which throughout history has primarily denoted the high mountain range stretching across eight countries in Europe.
I’ve also seen “alpine skiing” used as a synonym to “downhill skiing” (as opposed to cross country skiing)