Two, But Really One Trivia Quiz

Answer: Underwear

We call them a "pair" of underwear because in the 1800s, the undergarments really were two separate pieces of clothing over the legs that were joined at the waist. The term has since continued to be used when they were joined at the crotch.

Answer: Goggles

The "pair" in this case refers to the two lenses that are fitted in a flexible frame that is designed to sit snugly against the face. Goggles are used for swimming, in workshops, for skiing, and for many other purposes.

Answer: Clippers

Originally, clippers needed two parts to do the job, so then the "pair of clippers" was correct. The term moved into more modern usage when clippers became one item. Landscaping clippers and hairdressing clippers are both actually two things that work together to get the job done.

In the case of landscaping clippers, two arms are fastened together. In the case of hairdressing clippers, two sets of blades move back and forth across one another. In this case, the blades are held together in one instrument.

Answer: Binoculars

Shortly after the first telescope was invented in the 17th century, users realized that it was rather uncomfortable to close one eye while looking through the single instrument. They thought would be better to hold two of them up to the eyes at the same time. Telescopes were fastened together and the first binoculars were born. Since they were literally a "pair" of instruments, the term "pair of binoculars" was used.

Answer: Jeans

Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis patented a new style of riveted denim pants in the 1870s. A pair of jeans or pants is a holdover from the 1500s when the Pantalone style of garment was used to cover the legs. They were two separate pieces of clothing, put on separately and held together with a belt at the waist.

These were often called a "pair of pants". The usage of the term "pair" simply stuck with the garments after they were sewn together, and even later when Strauss introduced us to "pairs of jeans".

Answer: Tweezers

Tweezers are used to remove splinters, to pick up small objects, during surgery, etc. In the case of tweezers, the "pair" indicates that each arm of the device is really a separate length of metal that is joined at one end. This makes a single tool. When pressure is squeezed at the middle, they act as levers and squeeze the end opposite of the joined end. So, while really a single device, they are referred to as a "pair". To make things even more confusing, the verb that comes from this noun has a singular form - she uses her tweezers to tweeze her eyebrows.

Answer: Sunglasses

Like goggles, the "pair" in this case refers to the darkened lenses that help to protect the eyes from the sun, and not the frame in which the lenses sit. However, we refer to the entire set as a "pair of sunglasses".

Answer: Handcuffs

The reasons for calling these restraints a "pair" of handcuffs seems unclear. One theory is that it started in the late 1800s when police officers in England were known as "coppers". That term came from the ancient Anglo-Saxon word "cop" which meant "to catch something".

When handcuffs were developed, it seems that they were called "hand cops" because they were a restraint used to "catch the hands". As time moved along, the word changed from "hand cops" to "handcuffs". The "pair" in this case is likely due to the design of the instrument - two wrist restraints joined together by a short chain.

Answer: Scissors

This word originated as a singular word in Latin as "caesorium", a word for a cutting instrument that was made up of two blades. The word made its way to Middle French where it the instrument with two cutting blades was given both a singular form (cisoire) and a plural form (cisoires).

The word "scissors" started to be used in English in the 1400s to refer to a single cutting instrument. According to etymologists, we started calling them a "pair of scissors" to denote a singular form, as opposed to a bunch of scissors.

Answer: Tongs

Tongs are designs to pick up a single item such as a sugar cube or a lump of coal, or a bunch of items such as a serving of salad or spaghetti. They can also be used to grasp whole items on the barbecue. Tongs are referred to as a "pair" for the same reason as many other items - they are made up of two separate arms that work together to grasp the items.

They can be one piece of metal bent in half like delicate sugar tongs. They can also be separate pieces joined by a hinge at one end, or midway between the handles and the end that picks up items.