Scissors
Why is scissors seemingly plural? If you have a pair of scissors, you have one tool (not two). Or, if you have a ‘pair’ of scissors, perhaps each blade is a scissor. Similarly, what about a pair of pants? Is each leg of this piece of clothing a ‘pant’? Hence, a pair of pants?
I think I’ll cut this discussion off and focus on the etymology.
The noun scissors (a pair of shears of medium or small size) is from the late 14th century from Old French cisoires (shears) and Latin cisoria (a cutting instrument), from Latin cisus (to cut), Latin excidere (to cut out), and Latin caedere (to cut). The original source of the word scissors is from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root kac-id- (to strike).
The spelling of the word scissors was highly uncertain before the 20th century. Early spellings included cisoures, cisours, sesours, and cisurs.
The Latin word scissor meant a tailor, a carver, or a cutter. A scissor was a person who used scissors.
The term ‘a pair of scissors’, from around 1400, meant one instrument or tool; perhaps meaning an instrument with a pair of cutting blades. At that time, the term ‘scissor’ was also used to refer to such an instrument or tool; for example, “Please bring me the scissor…” For whatever reasons, the terms ‘pair of scissors’ and ‘scissors’ are the terms that have endured as the name.
The verb ‘to scissor’ (to cut with scissors) is from the 1610s. The term “Oh scissors!” was a 19th century term of impatience or disgust. The term ‘scissor kick’ in swimming is from 1902. The use of the verb ‘to scissor’ in wrestling, meaning a grip with the legs or ankles, is from 1904. The use of the word scissor in relation to a leg motion in rugby is from 1970.
What is a person called who makes scissors?
Scissors have been made and used for thousands of years. In the 19th century, the Wright family in Sheffield, England, began manufacturing scissors and established the Ernest Wright Company in 1902. A person making scissors for the Wright Company is known as a ‘putter-togetherer’ or a ‘master-putter-togetherer. Or, in short, a putter.
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
I think I’ll cut this discussion off and focus on the etymology.
The noun scissors (a pair of shears of medium or small size) is from the late 14th century from Old French cisoires (shears) and Latin cisoria (a cutting instrument), from Latin cisus (to cut), Latin excidere (to cut out), and Latin caedere (to cut). The original source of the word scissors is from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root kac-id- (to strike).
The spelling of the word scissors was highly uncertain before the 20th century. Early spellings included cisoures, cisours, sesours, and cisurs.
The Latin word scissor meant a tailor, a carver, or a cutter. A scissor was a person who used scissors.
The term ‘a pair of scissors’, from around 1400, meant one instrument or tool; perhaps meaning an instrument with a pair of cutting blades. At that time, the term ‘scissor’ was also used to refer to such an instrument or tool; for example, “Please bring me the scissor…” For whatever reasons, the terms ‘pair of scissors’ and ‘scissors’ are the terms that have endured as the name.
The verb ‘to scissor’ (to cut with scissors) is from the 1610s. The term “Oh scissors!” was a 19th century term of impatience or disgust. The term ‘scissor kick’ in swimming is from 1902. The use of the verb ‘to scissor’ in wrestling, meaning a grip with the legs or ankles, is from 1904. The use of the word scissor in relation to a leg motion in rugby is from 1970.
What is a person called who makes scissors?
Scissors have been made and used for thousands of years. In the 19th century, the Wright family in Sheffield, England, began manufacturing scissors and established the Ernest Wright Company in 1902. A person making scissors for the Wright Company is known as a ‘putter-togetherer’ or a ‘master-putter-togetherer. Or, in short, a putter.
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
No comments have been added yet.
