Re: "a Pair of Panties" ?????

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