Why do we say "pants"

70% Normal
22 Comments

I'm scratching my head around this. We call a single top a shirt, but we call a single bottom "pants", like WHAT?! Don't say it's because there's two holes for your legs because that's obvious! There's four holes for a shirt and we don't pluralize it, so why do we need to add a plural to something that is singular?! We don't say dresses, skirts, underwear, and shirts. However yet, we say pants as if it's in the norm.......

Voting Results
70% Normal
Based on 10 votes (7 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 22 )
  • donteatstuffoffthesidewalk
    5 years ago | pl

    cut em in half down the middle throw half away and yall gots a pant

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    6
    6
  • Columbusbiguy
    5 years ago

    I dont know for sure, but i think pants are short for pantaloons. That may be where it comes from.

    Either that or we are all just idiots.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
      -
    • [Old Memory]
      5 years ago

      Nope you’re right, pant is short for pantaloons

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      1
      1
    • Scared2Express
      5 years ago

      @Columbusbiguy
      "i think pants are short for pantaloons"

      You are correct. The word "pants" is mid 19th century abbreviation of "pantaloons".
      As for why we called them "pantaloons" and gave the plural back then, IDK.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
  • LloydAsher
    5 years ago

    It’s just a name. There had to be a placeholder name for it that sounded different from another piece of attire so people wouldn’t get confused.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • chuy
    5 years ago

    Idk ask your english teacher

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • CoolguysDOT-COM
    5 years ago

    Because the pants are made differently from the shirt whereas the legs or sleeves are the main part of the pants, while the main part of the shirt is the part that covers the torso, the sleeves being secondary and sometimes optional.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • megadriver
    5 years ago

    Cause language?! Why do we say car? Why do we say fire? Why do we say table? It's how it was thought up a long time ago, don't give it much thought. It works and gets the job done. That's all that matters.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • leggs91200
      5 years ago

      I think "car" might have come from shortenings of "horseless carriage".

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
  • CozmoWank
    5 years ago

    We also say slacks and trousers.

    Ever hear the phrases "a pair of pants" or "a pant leg"? We probably got lazy and dropped "pair of".

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • Nikclaire
    5 years ago

    What about shorts or panties or boxers or briefs? Pants aren't alone.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • mauzi
    5 years ago

    Singular words can have S on the end, why not?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • TerriAngel
    5 years ago

    With all that happens in this world.
    This is to small of an issue to even consider.
    Why do some March to stop anyone from ever having an abortion?
    Then march to stop the feeding of the same
    babys/ kids/ children/ people.
    That They just forced into this world?
    They care so much about about life.
    The baby, etc.
    Right up until it's born.
    Then they could care less.
    No childcare, no school lunches, no union, and let's build a wall to keep Latino babies out.
    They only value a life as long as it's unborn.
    Does that make sense?
    That's a better question.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    -1
    -1
      -
    • Bazinga
      5 years ago

      After that rant of yours, I wonder if you have enough brains to know why brains is pluralized in this sentence.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      3
      3
        -
      • TerriAngel
        5 years ago

        Bazinga?
        Not surprised you couldn't even come up with your own user name.
        I like how you tryed to avoid answering a question.
        By attacking my intelligence.
        You basically try to call me brainless for not knowing why certain singular words are plural.
        When that is precisely the question you yourself posted.
        What a tool.
        Like being a hipacrit much?
        Yea, I get it.
        Being forced to carry an unplanned pregnancy is not an issue to you.
        Good for YOU.
        Awful small world you live in.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
          -
        • Bazinga
          5 years ago

          *hypocrite, sweetie. Thanks for the compliment. Hahaha.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          0
          0
            -
          • TerriAngel
            5 years ago

            Bazinga?
            Great job on the alter ego attempt.
            Not our first battle is it?
            You small dick, closet homosexual jew lovin brit.
            Or aussie.
            ( same thing )
            I recognize your smell.
            Why bother trying a new username?

            Comment Hidden ( show )
            0
            0
              -
            • Bazinga
              5 years ago

              Small dick?
              Yes.
              Small brain?
              Your brain's domain is small.
              Not all is lost for you.
              Your genital aroma captives me.
              Pheromones, dreamy pheromones;
              As a reptile of the feminine gender,
              You hold the curse of cold fatal attraction.

              Comment Hidden ( show )
              0
              0
      • TerriAngel
        5 years ago

        ' brains ' is an idiom.
        kinda like you.
        stupid question.
        stupid answer.
        why call it a sock drawer? instead of socks drawer.
        Shoe store?
        instead of Shoes store.
        I could list dozens of examples, but.
        Why pander to an idiom?

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
    • LloydAsher
      5 years ago

      Dang there goes your chance to make a worth while discussion topic. Shame. Damn shame...

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
  • raisinbran
    5 years ago

    Language isn't real.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    -3
    -3
      -
    • Bazinga
      5 years ago

      Umm, look to the cosmos.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      1
      1