Kilt versu Kilts

[McClef]

Sheep and Fish are rare exceptions to the plural rule and indeed in the case of Fish using the plural Fishes is also acceptable. There are other plurals which are different to the singular like Goose and Geese.

No matter what anyone says Kilt used as a plural sounds just plain wrong. oop:

[sirdaniel1975]

I work with kilts every day and I've never heard anyone (before this Wikipedia article) suggest that the plural should be "kilt."

My collegues in tartan academia say "kilts."

My collegues in the tartan industry say "kilts."

The people I correspond with in America say "kilts."

The people I correspond with in Canada say "kilts."

The people I correspond with in Scotland say "kilts."

The (many) books on Highland dress I have read all use the term "kilts."

So where does this suggestion arise that "kilt" is the proper plural? I just do not see it used that way at all. Regretably, my Concise Scots Dictionary is not at hand, or else I would see what it had to say on the matter. Perhaps "kilt" is an archaic plural, but I daresay it is not in common usage any longer.

In my inner ear, I hear a congregation saying "AMEN!"

[cavscout]

I'll go with Matt's interpretation over wikipedia and some phantom "traditionalist" any day.

[Tetley]

No matter what anyone says Kilt used as a plural sounds just plain wrong. oop:

Not to everyone.

[Tetley]

I work with kilts every day and I've never heard anyone (before this Wikipedia article) suggest that the plural should be "kilt."

My collegues in tartan academia say "kilts."

My collegues in the tartan industry say "kilts."

The people I correspond with in America say "kilts."

The people I correspond with in Canada say "kilts."

The people I correspond with in Scotland say "kilts."

The (many) books on Highland dress I have read all use the term "kilts."

So where does this suggestion arise that "kilt" is the proper plural? I just do not see it used that way at all. Regretably, my Concise Scots Dictionary is not at hand, or else I would see what it had to say on the matter. Perhaps "kilt" is an archaic plural, but I daresay it is not in common usage any longer.

I do not doubt that this is so. In common usage "kilts" is an accepted plural of "kilt". Nevertheless, the noun "kilt" is singular and plural, or it was when I was taught English many years ago, probably before you were born (I've always wanted to say that).

Nor do I doubt that it is in common usage any more, but you will hear me and others say it because in my opinion, new and commonly used is not always synonymous with "better".

You will not hear me saying a lot of things that are considered normal everyday phrases in common usage today either because that is not how I was taught to speak English and I'm afraid that I positively refuse to speak American, Australian, Canadian or any other English except British, or send those ridiculous text messages that take forever to decipher.

Nor will you see me wear trousers, a garment commonly worn by men today. Instead I wear a traditional garment called a kilt which is not in common usage any longer.

What I'm trying to point out, and failing miserably it seems, is that using kilt as a plural noun is not wrong. It might be uncommon to hear it used and to some it may sound wrong, nevertheless it is correct.

Reminds me of that quote oft attributed to Churchill: "This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put."

Grates on many ears, but it is not wrong.

Mark

Let the flaming continue....

[O'Callaghan]

Dont think Hamish would be happy describing his kollection as xx kilt. Not everything in Wikipedia is always accurate and I would always regard the plural of kilt as kilts. My daughter always used to talk about "Look - sheeps".

Everyone knows the correct plural of sheep is sheepses, LOL!

[Squeaky McMurdo]

I thought it was "Sheepies."

[Mair of the Tribe of Mar]

Nope, Sheepi!!

[Mair of the Tribe of Mar]

As in, "See all those sheepi in that field!"

[BoldHighlander]

Let the flaming continue....

No 'flaming' allowed!!


Actually, I wasn't aware that there was any flaming going on in this thread.
Looks more like a discussion to me