Proper terminology?

[Kilted KT]

I suppose you could have a "pair of kilts" - one on each leg - like one would have a "pair of pants."

But I'd laugh at you.

Andrew.

hmm...
sounds like a pair of kilts would be worn by a belly dancer, or something along those lines...

a man with two kilts? yeah, definitly good for a laugh.

[Macman]

Sherry, I do actually have brothers named Rob, Jamie (and also Russ), but we spoke Canadian at home. All but Jamie now wear the kilt, and we're working on him. I do have a few stories, and some of them are actually true!

Maybe the "the" in front of "kilt" is a sign of respect, similar to the usage "The Mackintosh"?

[Kilted KT]

Sherry, I do actually have brothers named Rob, Jamie (and also Russ), but we spoke Canadian at home. All but Jamie now wear the kilt, and we're working on him. I do have a few stories, and some of them are actually true!

Maybe the "the" in front of "kilt" is a sign of respect, similar to the usage "The Mackintosh"?

not to hijack the thread, but when did canada develope their own language ( other than adding 'eh' to the end of every sentence)?

[Macman]

KT, I meant that we didn't speak with Scottish accents, but Canadian ones (recognizing the we sound like we have an accent to English-speakers from outside Canada). I think there are some words that are distinctly Canadian, and there sure are some regional dialects, eh? No doubt!

[GMan]

OK here is a different take on it.

Bi means two as in two holes for the legs as in BIfurcated. So one would wear a pair of pants-plural

Therefore: I wear the Kilt-singular

[M. A. C. Newsome]

In another thread, Andrew Breecher wrote:

Contrary to what most people here have said, unless I'm dressing up I always wear running shoes with my kilts (uh-oh, kilts-plural, see other thread).

In this case the plural use is ok, because you are talking about more than one kilt. You own several kilts. When not dressing up, you always wear running shoes with them. So you say you always wear running shoes with your kilts (plural).

What is incorrect is using the plural form when you are just talking about one kilt. This is my pet peeve. Someone will see me and say, "Oh, look, you have your kilts on today!" No, I only have one kilt on. Another person will say, "My son got married in his kilts." No, I'm willing to bet he just got married in one kilt.

This has nothing to do with proper "kilt terminology" or anything. It's just proper grammar. When you are referring to one kilt, use the singular. When you are referring to more than one, use the plural. Just like anything else.

M

[Andrew Breecher]

Oh, I know - I was just joking in that other thread when I noticed I'd written the plural.

I've never heard anyone call the kilt I'm wearing by the plural, though. A strange phenomenon!

Andrew.

[Kilted KT]

KT, I meant that we didn't speak with Scottish accents, but Canadian ones (recognizing the we sound like we have an accent to English-speakers from outside Canada). I think there are some words that are distinctly Canadian, and there sure are some regional dialects, eh? No doubt!

I figured that, just messing with you.

"Canada is like a loft apartment above a great party" - Robin Williams

[macwilkin]

Maybe the "the" in front of "kilt" is a sign of respect, similar to the usage "The Mackintosh"?

That's actually a reference to the Chief, who is the head of the clan, which is also a sign of respect, as you mentioned.

I've seen a lot of usage of the term "kilts" for a single garment from the 19th century, and even some older folks I know still use the plural "kilts" to describe a kilt.

But one improper use of terminology in this thread that I must correct: Men wear trousers, not "pants". Women wear pants.

Cheers,

Todd

[ByDand]

You wear a kilt and have kilts! BTW the Oxford English Dictionary describes pants in the same tone as trousers. Item of clothing worn from the waist to the ankle area separted in two pipe like tubes.