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From: Janet <nobody@home.com>
Newsgroups: sci.lang,alt.usage.english
Subject: Re: "a Pair of Panties" ?????
Date: Mon, 1 Jul 2024 13:00:45 +0100
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In article <v5tgf1$ukmm$1@dont-email.me>, vpaereru-
unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid says...
> 
> Le 01/07/2024 à 04:44, HenHanna a écrit :
> > 
> > A pair of pants,    or    A pair of trousers
> > 
> >                   ... ok because each Pair kinda looks like  [2 pipes].
> > 
> >     ...but...
> >               "a Pair of Panties" ?????
> 
> There appears to be a class of things that exist only in the plural - a 
> pair of tweezers, scissors, pliers, sunglasses... trousers, underpants, 
> knickers, tights... - things that bifurcate or are made up of two bits. 

  Despite which, the bra is singular.


> I suppose the briefer garments inherited the plural from longer ones 
> (though a few minutes' searching yields no support for this; briefs were 
> apparently in use in Ancient Egypt).
> 
> I observe that the kilt is singular - two legs, but only one hole.

  Like the skirt, the dress, the petticoat.

  It's a mystery why men don't wear a petticoat under 
those itchy wool kilts.

  Janet