The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cordillera \Cor*dil"ler*a\ (k[^o]r*d[i^]l"l[~e]r*[.a]; Sp.
   k[^o]r`d[-e]*ly[asl]"r[.a]), n. [Sp., fr. OSp. cordilla,
   cordiella, dim. of cuerda a rope, string. See Cord.]
   (Geol.)
   A mountain ridge or chain.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: Cordillera is sometimes applied, in geology, to the
         system of mountain chains near the border of a
         continent; thus, the western cordillera of North
         America in the United States includes the Rocky
         Mountains, Sierra Nevada, Coast and Cascade ranges.
         [1913 Webster]