dozen

¹

[ duhz-uhn ]

noun

, plural doz·ens, (as after a numeral) doz·en.

1. a group of 12.
2. the dozens, Slang. a ritualized game typically engaged in by two persons each of whom attempts to outdo the other in insults directed against members of the other's family (usually used in the phrase play the dozens ).

adjective

1. twelve.

dozen

²

[ doh-zuhn ]

verb (used with object)

, Scot.

1. to stun.

dozen

/ ˈdʌzən /

determiner

1. preceded bya or a numeral
   1. twelve or a group of twelve

      a dozen eggs

      two dozen oranges

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural )

      give me a dozen

      there are at least a dozen who haven't arrived yet

noun

1. by the dozen
   in large quantities
2. See baker's dozen
3. talk nineteen to the dozen
   to talk without stopping

Derived Forms

• ˈdozenth, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dozen¹

1250–1300; Middle English dozeine < Old French do ( u ) zaine, equivalent to do ( u ) ze (< Latin duodecim ) + -aine (< Latin -āna ) -an

Origin of dozen²

1325–75; Middle English (Scots); doze ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dozen¹

C13: from Old French douzaine, from douze twelve, from Latin duodecim, from duo two + decem ten

Idioms and Phrases

see baker's dozen ; by the dozen ; daily dozen ; dime a dozen ; six of one, half dozen of the other .

Example Sentences

The work and sacrifice are beginning to pay off, however, so much so that Shumake was able to sign nearly a dozen sponsors this season.

From Los Angeles Times

Even that small outpost is miles from the desert where a dozen paleontologists are hiking, looking for signs of long-ago life.

From Los Angeles Times

At a recent Board of Trustees meeting, around a dozen Black students expressed their concerns about the rally, saying they were subjected to harassment, intimidation and racial slurs.

From Los Angeles Times

"But the question is how much does experience help lead to finding solutions? This is a job where every morning there are at least a dozen kinds of fires burning."

From BBC

Shops and the stock market opened late on Thursday to reduce traffic congestion, and authorities adjusted public transport operating hours and put more than a dozen spare trains on standby in case of breakdowns.

From BBC

Related Words

• twelve
• xii