3 ms·
Reminds me of another fun word 'smithereens', as in blown to smithereens. The same site shares this nicely put observation: "'Smithereens' is one of those un
by exodust 4y ago
Reminds me of another fun word 'smithereens', as in blown to smithereens. The same site shares this nicely put observation:
"'Smithereens' is one of those unusual nouns that, like 'suds' and 'secateurs', never venture out by themselves - the word is always plural."
- biorach 4y agoAlso, as it happens, Irish in origin - smidiríní - "little pieces" https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fgb/smidir%c3%adn%c3%ad https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fgb/smidir%c3%adn%c3%ad
- thaumasiotes 4y ago"Smithereens" is an unusual word in that it can't occur outside of the single fixed expression that uses it. Being obligatorily plural is a much less unusual trait. We have glasses, pants, and scissors too.
- argentier 4y agoMost of those are residual duals though.
- liotier 4y ago"Secateur" is the French language word for "shears" - it is singular... But has it been imported into English language as plural by analogy to "shears" ?
- jjtheblunt 4y agoPants, trousers, etc? Some weird words look plural but refer to a single instance of a clothing item. I wonder how that happened.
- emmelaich 4y agoBecause they used to be preceded by "pair of .." I presume. Perhaps in early days they literally were two pieces, two blades etc.