Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Why is the opening of men's pants called a "fly"?

Meaning, why do we tell someone that their 'fly' is open if they forget to zip up their pants? Would like to have the origins of where it started to be called a fly and why.

Update:

I already know the answer...just wanted to see if anyone else is smart enough to know this.

10 Answers

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Why is the opening of men's pants called a "fly"?

    One root of the word "fly" (meaning "to soar through the air") also implies "flapping." Several sites revealed that tent flaps, which cover the tent's fasteners, much like on your 501s, lent their name to fly-front pants. The first documented use of "fly" meaning "tent flap" was in 1810.

    Europeans started getting into pants, as we know them, in the 16th century. Fly-front trousers were invented around 1650, although the flap didn't gain its flighty name till later. This center-front opening was considered a little risqu�, and pants closures changed between a fly and a fall-front style for the next century or two.

    In 1844, a book about military clothing made the first recorded use of "fly" to mean "pants opening." Thus trouser-wearers have been pretty fly ever since.

  • 4 years ago

    Pants Fly

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    "I already know the answer...just wanted to see if anyone else is smart enough to know this."

    Wow, you know this? Gee, you're REALLY smart. Congratulations!

  • 1 decade ago

    Maybe because they call his penis a 'bird'? And it might fly away? But then they should call the zipper a cage if that's the case...

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • 1 decade ago

    When the zip is undone, it looks like a pair of wings?

  • 1 decade ago

    because a fly smells "that smell" and flies in there when it's open.

    lol

    Source(s): my silliness
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    yes what somewhere over the hill said . so do i get the two points

  • 6 years ago

    hello

  • 1 decade ago

    thats the stupidest question i have ever heard!!!

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    GOOD QUESTION!

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.