1
THE NAME “OZARKS"
ANY discussion of the Ozarks involves the problem of definition, boundaries, and name-origin. In this chapter we will concentrate on the Missouri portion of the Ozarks, but the mention of Missouri also poses another question-how do we pronounce our state's name?
In 1864, Webster gave only one pronunciation, Missoorih, but currently, he changes the ss to zz with first preference to Missooree and the runner-up spot to Missoorih. Dr. George Pace of the University of Missouri (today's UMC) thoroughly and courageously studied the problem in the 1950s. He found that the ee pronunciation predominates in the northeastern states, whereas the ah ending is used in states southeast of the Ohio and Potomac rivers. Such usage led to his conclusion that since Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina were the predominant source states for early Missouri settlers, these pioneers undoubtedly brought the ah pronunciation to their new home.
he pronunciation may be a moot question to some out-of-state scholars, but public figures have been criticized for using the ee ending. Those with political ambitions in Missouri would find it judicious to disregard Webster and use the endings uh, ah, or a hybrid of the two.
The term Ozarks is of obscure origin, but at least four sources have been suggested: (1) A contraction of the French pioneer expression Aux Arkansas, literally "to the Arkansas [Mountains]." This is considered to have been shortened to Aux Arks, which ultimately acquired the present Anglicized phonetic spelling. (2) A modification of Aux Arcs ("with bows"), referring to a Quapaw Indian tribe in the hills of Missouri and Arkansas, Reportedly an early French trading post of Aux Arcs was in the vicinity of the present village of Arkansas Post in northern Arkansas. (3) A corruption of Bois d'Arcs, literally "Wood of Bows," the Osage orange used for Indian bows. Some references cite an aux in lieu of the d'. (4) An archaic geologic term, Azoic Arc (literally "Lifeless Arc") referring to the once-molten rocks in southeastern Missouri which contain no fossils as evidence of ancient organisms.
Only the discovery of some rare new information can answer the name question. It is probably French in origin, but other case histories exemplify the problem of what can happen to words through modification since the early 1700s when French was a (or the) major language in Missouri. Courtois Creek between Steelville and Potosi is now pronounced as Cote-a-way Creek; the Marais (Marsh or Swamp) River became the Maries, a name adopted by the county. Huzzah Creek represents the white man's attempt to transcribe Osage, and Fourche a Renault Creek near Potosi is pronounced For-shah-no. Who can attest to a true spelling for Meramac? It was an Indian word which is Maramec at the spring and iron works, Meramec for the Missouri stream, and Merrimack in Massachusetts, all of which are correct in their respective associations!
“Literally, ‘Wood
of Bows,’ the Osage orange used for Indian Bows.”
Osage orange windrow west of Vichy; inset on Vichy Rd. in Rolla.
