Quote:
Originally Posted by Acajack
Makes sense now that I think of it.
Probably from something like "montagnes aux arcs-en-ciel" which would mean Rainbow Mountains or Mountains of the Rainbows.
I'll never think of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils the same way again.
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i think it refers to the karst topography which creates limestone bridging.
Canadiens settled in the missouri ozarks in the swath of 18th century mining communities like Bonne Terre, Valles Mines, Desloge, De Soto, Old Mines just southwest of st. Louis...where they spoke a dialect related to Quebec French into the twentieth century. My understanding is that they came down from Quebec, instead of the misconception that they were from Louisiana.
Today the dialect is highly endangered, with only a few elderly native speakers. It is thought that any remaining speakers live in or around Old Mines, Missouri.
I've only heard an old timer speak a broken sort of emulated sounding french.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_French