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Well, it is probably a corruption, as in other semitic languages the form is singular. From the original צֹ֫הַר was made an adverb צׇהֳרָם at noon, (like יוֹמָם in the daytime), from which was then reinterpreted a noun in the dual צׇהֳרַ֫יִם noon.
Does Hebrew refer to products that come uncountable in their singular or plural forms? If I cook a carrot meal, אני מבשל גזר or גזרים? Do I say אני הולך לשוק לקנות תות or תותים?
I'm pretty sure it varies. Some bulk nouns, like water (מים) are plural. But others, like fun (כיף) are singular. The same thing happens in English, where fruit is singular but vegetables are plural, and where you might cook chicken (singular) or carrots (plural). Go figure.
Fruit in English means many, like many bananas. Fruits means several varieties of fruit.
Do you think that is the distinction in Hebrew also?
