"Pair of underwear"

Posted by Smokey Stover on January 11, 2004

In Reply to: "Pair of underwear" posted by Brenda on January 11, 2004

: Why do we say "pair of underware" when there is only one? Anyone know where this originated?

To say "a pair of underwear" is not quite as illogical as it sounds, although I don't know how often it is used, as opposed to, say, a pair of briefs, a pair of panties, a pair of shorts and the like. Underwear in the plural for a garment that is singular is, I hope, confined to those garments through which you can put your legs. Although many items of underwear have bilateral symmetry, only those that have holes for the legs are spoken of in the plural when only one is in question. SS