"I wear kilts," or "I wear the kilt." What do you say?

[Carolina Kiltman]

Living in Scotland, I have always said -'I wear the kilt,' the fact that I have several is immaterial, I don't know if its correct English or not - I am not English, so I do not pretend to know the niceities of that language.We also talk about 'the pipes' for bagpipes, eg 'I like to hear the pipes.' - Not I like to hear bagpipes....Maybe its a throwback to Gaelic, because again we say, 'I speak the Gaelic,' not just I speak Gaelic.
Just a thought....Alba Gu Brath......Urchurdan.....

Ah yes, isn't English a fascinating language. I used to use as an example of the differences between spoken and written English, a film clip from "I dream of Genie" She is made to sound different and rather exotic (which she was) by the fact that she spoke in compleat sentences, and did not use contractions. (much in the same way the character of Data in Star Trek, next Generation did.

The term "the Kilt" refers not only to the garment but also like "the veil" a lifestyle, a conscious choice.


BTW trousers or pants is plural because the first ones were more like hose, one for each leg, and most people I know have a pair of legs.