WordPlay Wanderings: MOTORWAY
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The pangram MOTORWAY has been used several times in the Spelling Bee. Some Bee solvers, who are unfamiliar with the word in American English perceive MOTORWAY as a British word and wonder about its inclusion in the Bee.
Though MOTORWAY is primarily used outside the United States (though not just in Britain), it is used in the U.S. as well, particularly in reference to scenic or historic roads, as shown in these recent examples:
"One of the most spectacular motorways in America, the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway runs through mountainous corridors of Virginia and North Carolina..." Source: Virginia Tourism Corporation
In Rocky Mountain National Park, there is "Trail Ridge Road, one of the highest continuous motorways in the United States" Source: Washington Post, October 21, 2021
"In the early 20th century, motor clubs sprung [sic] up across the United States [and] lobbied for the construction of safe motorways." Source: National Trust for Historic Preservation
"Running parallel to the railroad tracks for miles is the most celebrated motorway in the United States; legendary Route 66." Source: Flagstaff Special Edition
"HMSHost, formerly known as Host Marriott Services ... operates 2,200 facilities ... on 13 of the most heavily traveled motorways in the United States and Canada." Source: Yellow Pages
Though MOTORWAY is primarily used outside the United States (though not just in Britain), it is used in the U.S. as well, particularly in reference to scenic or historic roads, as shown in these recent examples:
"One of the most spectacular motorways in America, the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway runs through mountainous corridors of Virginia and North Carolina..." Source: Virginia Tourism Corporation
In Rocky Mountain National Park, there is "Trail Ridge Road, one of the highest continuous motorways in the United States" Source: Washington Post, October 21, 2021
"In the early 20th century, motor clubs sprung [sic] up across the United States [and] lobbied for the construction of safe motorways." Source: National Trust for Historic Preservation
"Running parallel to the railroad tracks for miles is the most celebrated motorway in the United States; legendary Route 66." Source: Flagstaff Special Edition
"HMSHost, formerly known as Host Marriott Services ... operates 2,200 facilities ... on 13 of the most heavily traveled motorways in the United States and Canada." Source: Yellow Pages
The list above purposefully excludes international sources about the U.S. highway system that refer to "motorways" in the U.S., as they are written using the language of their non-U.S. authors (e.g., studies of international highway fatalities that refer to all limited-access roads in all the subject countries as "motorways" regardless of local terminology).
In the U.S., the word MOTORWAY might best be described as a little outdated, though not quite archaic. In the early days of what was widely called “motoring,” before limited access highways had ever been thought of, there were more parkways, and roads designed for scenic driving: motorways.
In older publications, “motor way” – the road on which people motored – is presented as an open compound:
"NEW SCENIC RIDGE ROAD; Three States Combining with Government to Build Motor Way.”New York Times, February 11, 1934.
"SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY A SCENIC MOTOR WAY; Suggested Tour Includes Variety of Mountains and Plains"New York Times, September 1, 1929.
"[Around 1933, President] Roosevelt ... approved the concept of constructing a scenic motor way linking the two new parks, Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park" Source: Virtual Blue Ridge
Here are some interesting titles of older map-pamphlets:
"The favorite motor ways of New England: Historical and descriptive : with illustrations, comprehensive road maps, and sky-line sketches" (MacNair's motorway series) January 1, 1915
The SCENIC MOTORWAY: A Motor Tour De Luxe featuring New York to Montreal, P.Q., Berkshires & Adirondacks, Green & White Mountains, The New England Coast and the Mohawk Trail. MacNair's Motorway Series) 1916. (The cover of the 1919 edition is shown at the top of this post.)
And a newer one! Super-Scenic Motorway: A Blue Ridge Parkway History, University of North Carolina Press, 2010
In the U.S., the word MOTORWAY might best be described as a little outdated, though not quite archaic. In the early days of what was widely called “motoring,” before limited access highways had ever been thought of, there were more parkways, and roads designed for scenic driving: motorways.
In older publications, “motor way” – the road on which people motored – is presented as an open compound:
"NEW SCENIC RIDGE ROAD; Three States Combining with Government to Build Motor Way.”New York Times, February 11, 1934.
"SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY A SCENIC MOTOR WAY; Suggested Tour Includes Variety of Mountains and Plains"New York Times, September 1, 1929.
"[Around 1933, President] Roosevelt ... approved the concept of constructing a scenic motor way linking the two new parks, Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park" Source: Virtual Blue Ridge
Here are some interesting titles of older map-pamphlets:
"The favorite motor ways of New England: Historical and descriptive : with illustrations, comprehensive road maps, and sky-line sketches" (MacNair's motorway series) January 1, 1915
The SCENIC MOTORWAY: A Motor Tour De Luxe featuring New York to Montreal, P.Q., Berkshires & Adirondacks, Green & White Mountains, The New England Coast and the Mohawk Trail. MacNair's Motorway Series) 1916. (The cover of the 1919 edition is shown at the top of this post.)
And a newer one! Super-Scenic Motorway: A Blue Ridge Parkway History, University of North Carolina Press, 2010
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