[Sidenote: Two classes of compound words.]
50. Compound words may be divided into two classes:--
(1) _Those whose parts are so closely joined as to constitute one
word._ These make the last part plural.
courtyard
dormouse
Englishman
fellow-servant
fisherman
Frenchman
forget-me-not
goosequill
handful
mouthful
cupful
maidservant
pianoforte
stepson
spoonful
titmouse
(2) _Those groups in which the first part is the principal one,
followed by a word or phrase making a modifier._ The chief member adds
_-s_ in the plural.
aid-de-camp
attorney at law
billet-doux
commander in chief
court-martial
cousin-german
father-in-law
knight-errant
hanger-on
NOTE.--Some words ending in _-man_ are not compounds of the English
word _man_, but add _-s_; such as
_talisman_, _firman_, _Brahman_,
_German_, _Norman_, _Mussulman_, _Ottoman_.
51. Some groups pluralize both parts of the group; as
_man singer_,
_manservant_,
_woman servant_,
_woman singer_.
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