Meaning and usage of the word pair in English

The word "pair" has its roots in Old English. In Old English, the word "pier" or "pær" meant "a couple" or "a two-fold thing". This sense of a pair as a duo or a twosome has been in use since the 8th century. By the 12th century, the spelling had changed to "pair" and the word began to be used more widely to describe not just humans, but also objects and animals. For example, you might say "a pair of shoes" or "a pair of horses". The word has also evolved to have multiple meanings, such as a pair of fork and knife or a pair of numbers that match each other. Despite its evolving usage, the core concept of a pair as a collection of two has remained the same since Old English times.