prominence (n.)

1590s, "projection," from obsolete French prominence (16c.), from Latin prominentia "a jutting out," abstract noun from prominere "jut or stand out, be prominent, overhang," from pro "before, forward" (see pro-) + -minere "project, jut out," which is related to mons "hill" (from PIE root *men- (2) "to project").  Meaning "distinction, conspicuousness" is attested by 1827. As a type of solar phenomenon, from 1862.