However, I think the usage is plural, as in "my pants are dirty".

That's an interesting point - and related to it is the concept of buying a "pair of pants" and buying a "pair of socks". When I think of someone buying a pair of pants, I think of one unit, but when someone buys a pair of socks, two units.

Maybe because the one pair of pants covers two legs? But then a long-sleeved shirt (that covers two arms) would be a "pair of shirts". Too much thinking on a muggy Saturday afternoon. ;)


Kevin