in the 1700's oats did not exsist as a singular entity, only as a plural
its in johnsons dictionary, there is only a plural!
(
Sheehan forevermore owes Ttssattsr beer,
Wed 28 Nov 2007, 21:28,
archived)
Like with peas,
except the other way around. It was "pease" as a mass until someone figured that there must be a single part and dropped the "s".
(
oldpeopleinthecemetery,
Wed 28 Nov 2007, 22:01,
archived)