pants

[bupf]

why are pants called pants when it is only one thing ? socks i can understand but pants?

[woofgang]

originally, pants were two separate legs with no middle bit. Then they got a middle bit and turned into one garment, but kept the plural name. Interestingly in the fashion and tailoring world, there does seem to be a move towards talking about "the trouser" or "the pant"

[IndieSinger]

So the under garments had no middle bit... and "trousers" are plural, implying they were once separate items too... so just what exactly covered the middle bit?!

[woofgang]

umm...nothing...convenient but drafty. men used to have a codpiece, tied on with strings...the original thong...don't you wish you hadn't asked??

[karincon]

if you leave it as singular it is what you do when the plural is removed, when accompanied by another and in a romantic setting...Leave the word alone, what harm is it doing.. by the way bupf where did you find my question on Who Decided??