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Chambers gives Subfusc as a noun and there is no information about the plural - so this would seem to indicate you add an 's' (as you do with Banana, for example). The word 'sheep' is followed by information that the plural is 'sheep'. Chambers Wordwizard, Scrabble and various online dictionaries seem to accept Subfuscs - as did the setter of the Herald crossword. Whether we like 'subfuscs' - because of its derivation - is another matter!

but Malone, my edition of Chambers says that subfusc means 'clotheS' - to me that makes it a plural word ALREADY??

I know it says 'clothes' - I'm just thinking of normal dictionary usage where a noun is pluralised by adding an 's' unless we're told differently. 'Subfusc' is not a plural noun in the same sense that 'trousers' is - if it were, Chambers would say n,pl.

subfusc is a corruption of subfuscus, which is neither verb nor noun but an adjective referring to dark clothing beneath the academic gowns etc. Sticking an "s" on to its hind-end is more idiomatic when referring to the plural. For example, we would say "They were wearing short trousers" or "They were wearing shorts"

Nice one timdownieuk, that had me beat.

If subfusc is derived from the Latin "subfuscus" surely the plural must be subfusci? Myops is a Latin scholar after all.

Sam,
you say "If subfusc is derived from the Latin "subfuscus" surely the plural must be subfusci", but I think it is more a case of a corruption than derivation. Idiom and usage beat strict grammar hands down. For example, the plural of "stadium" is "stadia", but how often do you hear that used? The word "agenda" is itself a plural - things requiring to be done- but how often do you hear "agendas". Oh, and I said "for example", but then gave 2 examples because saying "For examples" would have seemed odd.