dozen

views updated May 23 2018

doz·en / ˈdəzən/ (abbr.: dz.) • n. 1. (pl. same) a group or set of twelve: a dozen bottles of sherry. ∎ (dozens) inf. a lot: she has dozens of admirers.2. (the dozens) an exchange of insults engaged in as a game or ritual among black Americans.PHRASES: by the dozen in large quantities.DERIVATIVES: doz·enth / ˈdəzən[unvoicedth]/ adj.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

dozen

views updated May 11 2018

dozen XIII. ME. dozein(e) — OF. dozeine, -aine (mod. douzaine); Rom. deriv. with -ēna (as in L. decēna, centēna, etc. group of 10, 100, etc.), f. *do(t)ze :- *dōdece :- L. duodecim 12, f. duo TWO + decem TEN.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

dozen

views updated May 11 2018

dozen a group or set of twelve. Recorded from Middle English, the word comes ultimately (via Old French) from Latin duodecim ‘twelve’.

See also baker's dozen, devil's dozen.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES