Why is one underwear called a pair?

Why is one underwear called a pair?

“Pair,” from the Latin, means two like things. And pants (pantaloons) were originally two like things. You put them on one leg at a time because they actually came in two pieces. From the beginning, about the 16th Century, pants have been referred to as a pair.

Why is a pair of underwear plural?

Anyway, “panties” are short pantaloons, which is why they maintained the plural. If the garments had been invented at the same time by the same manufacturer, doubtless they would have been given parallel names, but they were not, so they have not.

Why is a bra not called a pair?

Before the invention of the modern bra, women wore what was called a “bodice,” which the Oxford English Dictionary describes as “an inner garment for the upper part of the body, quilted and strengthened with whalebone.” That’s probably why the modern woman doesn’t put on “a pair of bras” in the morning.

Why is a bra singular and panties plural?

Bra is a shortened version of the word “brassiere,” which has its origin as a Norman word for a child’s undershirt. Hence it is singular. Panties are small pants. The legs used to be tied on separately so you would need a pair of them to make pants.

Do you say a pair of underwear?

It’s from saying a pair of pants. One pant (that sounds wrong) is essentially a pants leg, so a pair is two of them, generally sewn together. Underpants used to be long (think long underwear), so they had pants legs. However, you don’t say a pair of underwear, boxers, briefs or panties.

Is it pair or pairs of underwear?

5 Answers. Underwear, like trousers or jeans, are referred to as a pair, because it’s a throwback to when pants (pantaloons) originally came in two pieces – a matching pair. A person would put on one leg, tie it around their waist, then put on the other leg and do the same.

Is pair of underwear correct?

5 Answers. Underwear, like trousers or jeans, are referred to as a pair, because it’s a throwback to when pants (pantaloons) originally came in two pieces – a matching pair.

Why are scissors called a pair?

In Vulgar Latin, caesorium referred to a cutting instrument, and this Latin word was singular—even though the cutting instrument it named had two blades that slid past each other. We began calling an individual scissors a pair to emphasize the matched cutting blades.

Is a pair of socks an article of clothing?

A sock is a piece of clothing worn on the feet and often covering the ankle or some part of the calf. Some type of shoe or boot is typically worn over socks. In ancient times, socks were made from leather or matted animal hair.

What does bra stand for?

brassiere
A bra, short for brassiere or brassière (US: /brəˈzɪər/, UK: /ˈbræsɪər/ or /ˈbræzɪər/; French: [bʁasjɛʁ]), is a form-fitting undergarment typically designed to support or cover a woman’s breasts.

How do you say bra in plural?

The plural form of bra is bras.

Why do we wear undergarments?

They serve to keep outer garments from being soiled or damaged by bodily excretions, to lessen the friction of outerwear against the skin, to shape the body, and to provide concealment or support for parts of it. In cold weather, long underwear is sometimes worn to provide additional warmth.

What is a pair of underwear called in the UK?

Items of underwear worn on the upper part of the body are usual singular, as in ‘a vest’. If there were 2 vests then they could be called a pair of vests but more likely just ‘two vests’. So in the UK we are never going to say ‘a pair of underwear’ it would be a meaningless statement.

Why do we wear a pair of underwear?

They had a pair, one for each leg. As time passed, they took the pair of sleeves and sewed them together, creating what we call underwear. This also explains why we wear a pair of underwear. When modern underwear was first becoming popular, it was all hand-made, usually be a member of the family (mom).

What does it mean to say a pair of pants?

It’s from saying a pair of pants. One pant (that sounds wrong) is essentially a pants leg, so a pair is two of them, generally sewn together. Underpants used to be long (think long underwear), so they had pants legs. However, you don’t say a pair of underwear, boxers, briefs or panties.