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Does anyone know why Toronto are called the Maple Leafs instead of the Maple Leaves?

Question #44982. Asked by philsgirl.
Last updated Sep 01 2021.

Kainantu
Answer has 3 votes
Kainantu

Answer has 3 votes.
Whilst it doesn't follow the usual English of changing the f to ves to form the plural, the Miriam Webster Online Dictionary deems leafs as an acceptable form of plural for leaf.

Inflected Form(s): plural leaves also leafs

link https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leaf

Response last updated by gtho4 on Aug 31 2021.
Mar 06 2004, 3:50 AM
woody156
Answer has 0 votes
woody156
20 year member
74 replies

Answer has 0 votes.
Conn Smythe, who bought the Toronto St. Patrick's Hockey Club, changed the name to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He just liked the way it sounded. It all happened on St. Valentine's Day, 1927.

Mar 08 2004, 10:39 AM
scortpus
Answer has 4 votes
Currently Best Answer
scortpus

Answer has 4 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
The official name of the Toronto Maple Leafs is "The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club". In this case Leaf is a proper noun. When making a proper noun plural it is incorrect to change the spelling of the singular name, which is why it is spelled Leafs and not Leaves.

For example: The noun "baby" is made plural by dropping the 'y' and adding an 'ies' - babies, but if there was a family surnamed Baby, they would be called the Babys.
Because they were named after the Maple Leaf regiment of the Canadian Army. Since Maple Leaf is a proper noun, the correct plural is Maple Leafs, not Maple Leaves.
link https://green-infos.com/library/lecture/read/26679-where-is-david-clarkson-now


Response last updated by gtho4 on Sep 01 2021.
Sep 27 2006, 10:07 AM
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zbeckabee star
Answer has 4 votes
zbeckabee star
Moderator
18 year member
11752 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.
The somewhat peculiar spelling of the word "Leafs" vs. "Leaves" is in actuality grammatically allowable, just as "dwarfs" is an alternative to the spelling "dwarves".

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_Leafs#Early_years_.281917-27.29






Response last updated by gtho4 on Aug 31 2021.
Oct 03 2007, 5:57 PM
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