poulter's measure

[ pohl-terz ]

noun

, Prosody.

1. a metrical pattern using couplets having the first line in iambic hexameter, or 12 syllables, and the second in iambic heptameter, or 14 syllables.

Word History and Origins

Origin of poulter's measure¹

1570–80; so called because poulters ( poulterer ) used to give extra eggs when counting by the dozen