Pair of what?

Question

I understand a pair of shoes, a pair of socks, even a pair of legs. Obviously because there are two of each of them.

So why in the world do we say a pair of knickers when there is only one item?

ALIBONGOBERT:
You also get a pair of spectacles... explain that.
How about a pair of shirts then?
Two armholes there!

ALIBONGOBERT:
You also get a pair of spectacles... explain that.
How about a pair of shirts then?
Two armholes there!

WISDOM:
You chose your name so well, it really suits you.

Answer 1

a pair of spectacles, the whole thing is made up of 2 pairs...a pair of lenses, and a pair of handles which fit over a pair of ears.
a pair of knickers, the whole thing has a focus to join between two legs, to cover 2 lips and 2 bum cheeks.
a shirt is one unit which has a back, a front, a collar, two sleeves, the focus is not on a pair. u get sleeveless shirts.
when the focus is on a pair, the item is termed in the plural sense of the word. another eg is a pair of scissors.
note though that other things like, twins and sandwich, are pairs for which we never say, a pair of twins, or a pair of sandwiches. the main reason for this would be that twins are two hole human beings who can function on their own, independently of one another, so can a slice of bread, without another.
a pair of scissors, can function only when both blades are present, or a pair of knicksers, when both leg holes are there. you can however, and do, get sleeveless shirts.
it might seem confusing, but essentially, the trend seem to be that when its an entire unit of made up of a pair. generally, a pair of knickers has 2 parts, a front and a back, and the 2 leg holes of course, thus its called a pair.
oh well, guess we just have to live with it? ...what cannot be cured must be endured...?

Answer 2

When it is said 'Knickers' we treat it as a single article of clothig. But it is the short form of ' Knickerbokers' : a baggy type trousers.

What does the word 'Knickers' actually mean?

knickers (a plural noun)

"1. An undergarment with two separate legs or legholes. They are worn by women and girls, and cover part or all of the lower abdomen and buttocks and sometimes the thighs." Baggies.

The Origin of the word:

19th century: named after Diedrich Knickerbocker, the pseudonym of the author of Washington Irving's History of New York, 1809.

Whenever there are two SEPERABLE arms or wings or legs in a single object / thing, we use 'a pair of & the noun in plural' (there are exceptions too. Like a pair of PANTIES (Extension of the usage for pants)

Eg: A pair of tongs, A pair of eyeglasses, scissors, tweezers, shears, pliers etc etc.

Here What Cecil Adams says about it is worthy of notice to get the CONCEPT behind these usages:

"First of all, let's note there is a class of objects that are thought to consist of two independent but connected parts, usually identical or at least similar to each other.

The terms for these objects are always plural in form, and they are usually referred to as "a pair of ...." This usage goes back to at least 1297 AD, when we have the expression "a peire of hosen."

The implication is that the two parts are separable in some sense, ....(True, you can't separate tweezers, but I never claimed the English language was rational.) "

It answers your querry, 'why not a pairs of shirts too'

Does this answer your querry? If it does, get my tenner ready! j/k

Source:

Answer 3

I was thinking that the two leg thing makes sense, but then maybe it's a warning to also take a spare pair of knickers with you everywhere, incase of an accident! Hence a pair of knickers

Answer 4

You're right, it would seem to imply that knickers refers not to the whole garment, but to the part that goes down your leg, and in that vein, that you COULD have a knicker (like a shoe or a sock), though, like shoe or sock, it might not be much use. Just one of the peculiarities of the english language.

Answer 5

knickers (panties) because each one accommodates your two legs. the other items you mention also accommodate two of something, eyes, feet etc. the shirt may or may not have sleeves, but it also covers the front and back of your torso of which you have only one.
a pair of pants, knickers, shorts or swimming trunks accommodate each leg on your lower body. a dress, skirt, jacket or shirt covers each leg/arm and more. this is not a dumb question, my grand kids asked me the same thing. :)

Answer 6

They have a pair of leg holes like pants or jeans

Answer 7

I guess it's because the garment has a pair of holes for each leg.

Answer 8

Pair of jugs
Two good handfuls

Answer 9

Originally knickers and trousers came as two separate halves that fixed together with a belt.

Answer 10

Or a pair of trousers? Maybe because they have holes for the pair of legs, but then this would go against a jumper not being called a pair of jumper??? I dunno. Seems like a mad world to me!