Is It Really a Pair?

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You know how we say "a pair" of scissors, when it's really just one thing? And "a pair" of glasses, when that is also really just one thing? And how about "a pair" of pants, which is also, clearly, just one thing? I can almost see "glasses" as a term, since there is one piece of glass on either side, and they could be used independently (after all, there is such a thing as a monocle). But what's up with the scissors? Why does it need an 's' at the end, and why is it a pair? It's composed of two pointy sections joined in the center, so I guess that means that each side is a "scissor"? Can these actually be used independently? I guess you could stab somebody with it, but I'm pretty sure that cutting out some paper dolls would be out of the question. And pants? Eh? Each individual leg is a "pant"? Can you even use them individually? I don't think so--I don't think one 'pant' would stay up, unless you strapped it on, somehow, and then that wouldn't even cover your bits. And besides, pant is already a word--it's what a dog would do in a hot car. By the way, don't ever leave a dog in a hot car, or I will stab you with a scissor!