How many relatively common singular nouns can you think of that, when you remove an "s", become a relatively common plural noun?

For example: PRINCESS (singular) becomes PRINCES (plural).

I know of at least four more, one of which only has one "s" to begin with.

Following is a list of 32 English words (including the example given by the poser). Not all words listed may be considered common. (What is relatively common anyway?) Words are each hyperlinked to one of their online dictionary definitions.

1. abbess => abbes (abbe)
2. adventuress => adventures (adventure)
3. basis => bais (bai)
4. boss => bos (bo)
5. brass => bras (bra)
6. caress => cares (care)
7. coss => cos (cos)
8. doss => dos (do)
9. fabless => fables (fable)
10. fuss => fus (fu)
11. gaminess => gamines (gamine)
12. guess => gues (gue)
13. kaross => karos (karo)
14. kiss => kis (ki)
15. koss => kos (kos)
16. largess => larges (large)
17. lass => las (la)
18. mass => mas (ma)
19. millionairess => millionaires (millionaire)
20. morass => moras (mora)
21. muss => mus (mu)
22. ogress => ogres (ogre)
23. nobless => nobles (noble)
24. pass => pas (pa)
25. piss => pis (pi)
26. princess => princes (prince)
27. saltiness => saltines (saltine)
28. sash => ash (ash)
29. slice => lice (louse)
30. spike => pike (pike)
31. steal => teal (teal)
32. trillionairess => trillionaires (trillionaire)

Posted by Dej Mar on 2009-03-24 18:43:07