In the first place it is a double plural; the -en being the -en in _oxen_, whilst the simpler form _child-er_ occurs in the old English, and in certain provincial dialects. Now, what is the -er in _child-er_? In Icelandic, no plural termination is commoner than that in -r; as _geisl-ar_ = _flashes_, _tung-ur_ = _tongues_, &c. Nevertheless, it is not the Icelandic that explains the plural form in question. Besides the word _childer_, we collect from the Old High German the following forms in -r:-- Hus-ir, _Houses_, Chalp-ir, _Calves_, Lemp-ir, _Lambs_, Plet-ir, _Blades of grass_, Eig-ir, _Eggs_, and others, the peculiarity of which is the fact of their all being _of the neuter gender_. Now, the theory respecting this form which is propounded by Grimm is as follows:-- 1. The -r represents an earlier -s. 2. Which was, originally, no sign of a plural number, but merely a neuter derivative affix, common to the singular as well as to the plural number. 3. In this form it appears in the Mœso-Gothic: _ag-is_ = _fear_ (whence _ague_ = _shivering_), _hat-is_ = _hate_, _riqv-is_ = _smoke_ (_reek_). In none of these words is the -s radical, and in none is it limited to the singular number. To these doctrines, it should be added, that the reason why a singular derivational affix should become the sign of the plural number, lies, most probably, in the _collective_ nature of the words in which it occurs: _Husir_ = _a collection of houses_, _eiger_ = _a collection of eggs_, _eggery_ or _eyry_. In words like _yeoman-r-y_ and _Jew-r-y_, the -r has, probably, the same origin, and is _collective_. In Wicliffe we find the form _lamb-r-en_, which is to _lamb_ as _children_ is to _child_. § 202. _The form in -en._--In the Anglo-Saxon no termination of the plural number is more common than -n: _tungan_, tongues; _steorran_, stars. Of this termination we have evident remains in the words _oxen_, _hosen_, _shoon_, _eyne_, words more or less antiquated. This, perhaps, is _no_ true plural. In _welk-in_ = _the clouds_, the original singular form is lost. § 203. _Men_, _feet_, _teeth_, _mice_, _lice_, _geese_.--In these we have some of the oldest words in the language. If these were, to a certainty, true plurals, we should have an appearance somewhat corresponding to the so-called _weak_ and _strong_ tenses of verbs; viz., one series of plurals formed by a change of the vowel, and another by the addition of the sibilant. The word _kye_, used in Scotland for _cows_, is of the same class. The list in Anglo-Saxon of words of this kind is different from that of the present English. _Sing._ _Plur._ Freónd Frýnd _Friends_. Feónd Fynd _Foes_. Niht Niht _Nights_. Bóc Béc _Books_. Burh Byrig _Burghs_. Bróc Bréc _Breeches_. Turf Týrf _Turves_.