avant-garde, avant-gardes, vanguard, vanguards.
contre-maître, contre-maîtres, foreman, foremen.
5. Of the following compounds the nouns take s in both numbers, because they suggest plurality, as:
|
un, a, or des, some |
{ essuie-mains, towel, towels = that which dries the hands. { cure-dents, toothpick, toothpicks = that which picks the teeth. { porte-clefs, turnkey, turnkeys = one who carries keys. |
6. Compounds made of invariables, of course, do not change, as:
|
passe-partout, master key, master keys. |
pour-boire, a tip, tips. |
§ 7. Nouns having no Plural.
1. Such are the metals, as:
|
or, gold. argent, silver. |
fer, iron. plomb, lead. |
cuivre, copper. étain, pewter. |