A friend of mine always says 'a scissors'. He maintains scissors are are a singular thing and we shouldn't pluralise just cause of the 's' at the end. He does this with pants, trousers and knickers too. A knickers, a trousers etc.
Why is it that the adjectives are singular too e.g sissorlike, knickerless? Anybody know?
2007-01-07 00:34:17 · 22 answers · asked by Mr. Fox 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Scissors consist of two cutting blades which work together. Perhaps the root of the word is connected to scythe, which also means a (single) cutting implement. Trousers and knickers accommodate two limbs, although the French use the singular word "pantalon," so presumably they think of it as a single garment, which it is, and consider irrelevant the fact that it accommodates two legs . It is more precise to use the plural term however, as it indicates the structure of the garment. A garment that merely covers the lower torso and top of the legs could be a kilt or a robe. The word "schism" also refers to a splitting, and a scion is an offshoot. Thus the word scissors is not simply a name of the tool, but partly describes it. As to why adjectives are formed omitting the "s" I could not be sure, but think it is because the "s" is in fact an indicator of the plural nature of the tool, just as the suffix "like" indicates a preceived similarity, so -"s" and "like" are meaningful additions to the main idea and do not need to be used together.
2007-01-07 01:24:55 · answer #1 · answered by dilettante 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A scissor is the single blade. A pair of scissors, therefore, is the item that has two blades hinged together.
A single scissor could also be called a knife, or an envelope opener.
For the pants, trousers and knickers part of your question, I believe the singular and plural parts of those words refer actually to the hole in which you place your let. One leg hole would be a trouser. The other leg hole is the other trouser. Therefore, a pair of trousers. A single trouser would be a tube of material, imagine a tube skirt.
2007-01-07 00:42:38 · answer #2 · answered by stagemanagerman2000 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Scissors have two blades that work against each other - hence a pair. However, a Welsh friend refers to 'a scissor' - I'm not sure why.
We also refer to a pair of compasses with which to draw circles (as distinct from a compass for showing where north is). Many people get confused with these.
Irritatingly, many stores refer to 'a trouser' now. I refer to them as a pair of trousers as they generally have two parts, one for each leg! I can't say I have come across 'a pant'!
2007-01-07 04:15:04 · answer #3 · answered by Rozzy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scissor = denoting an action in which two things cross each other or open and close like a pair of scissors: eg. a scissor kick.
1cut with scissors.
2move or cause to move in a way resembling the action of scissors.
Scissors : an instrument used for cutting cloth and paper, consisting of two crossing blades pivoted in the middle and operated by thumb and fingers inserted in rings at each end.
2007-01-07 06:02:26 · answer #4 · answered by breezinabout 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Annoys me too. Some people say a pair of bras! How daft. Guess you need to ask The Scissor Sisters!
2007-01-07 00:37:56 · answer #5 · answered by Alicat 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My thinking is scissor derives from inscision, and thus there might be an inscisor out there, and thus scissors became the shortened slang thing? That's a guess, but plausible enough!
Your friend lacks grammatical knowledge though I think ... :s
2007-01-07 00:39:15 · answer #6 · answered by Emily 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You have been given the correct answer in most of the responses. 2 blades = a pair. Happy cutting!
2007-01-07 02:17:14 · answer #7 · answered by Amanda G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its beacause its made up of 2 blades hence the PAIR of scissors
just likea PAIR of trousers and shorts have 2 legs.
2007-01-07 02:13:32 · answer #8 · answered by tomw91 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Woman puts on a pair of knickers
and then puts on a bra....
So why isn't it called a pair of bra's and a knicker?
2007-01-07 00:41:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
maybe scissor is some word in some language for blade... and 2 blades are better than one
2007-01-07 00:42:12 · answer #10 · answered by metsguy126 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋