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

      two dozen oranges

      a dozen eggs

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

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

      give me a dozen

noun

1. by the dozen
   by the dozen in large quantities
2. See baker's dozen
   See baker's dozen
3. talk nineteen to the dozen
   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

Typically, by this time of year, we’re talking dozens per 100,000 every week.

From FiveThirtyEight

Even with the over half-dozen shots that have now been approved around the globe, it’s unlikely that you’ll get to choose for some time yet.

From Popular-Science

Now, my Texas family buys their tamales — by the many dozens, so that they have enough to feed anyone who happens to stop by.

From Washington Post

In some cases, the model is being exceptionally conservative because of a lack of polling in the state, but the first dozen on the list are realistic pickup opportunities for Democrats.

From FiveThirtyEight

There’s a dozen ways to end your career in Disco Elysium, and only a few actually involve solving the case.

From Time

Perhaps on his own nowadays, Epstein is trying his best to webmaster over a dozen URLs.

From The Daily Beast

A dozen Revolutionary Guards were caught deep inside Pakistan, tracking Rigi.

From The Daily Beast

Another picture showed him surrounded by a dozen or so fighters—some masked and others laughing.

From The Daily Beast

A gifted marketer, he sent samples of the hat to merchandisers all over the West, asking for a minimum order of a dozen.

From The Daily Beast

Six months after we spoke, more than two-dozen have successfully qualified, and won the same exemption.

From The Daily Beast

There were at least a dozen ladies seated round the big table at the Parsonage.

From Project Gutenberg

I ask for half a dozen projectors or so in every school, and for a well-stocked storehouse of films.

From Project Gutenberg

Before we had all fired, Fanning and a dozen of his sharpest men had again loaded, and were by our side.

From Project Gutenberg

We had half a dozen passengers to Ferrara; for the rest of the way, I had this extensive traveling establishment to myself.

From Project Gutenberg

Our class has swelled to about a dozen persons now, and a good many others come and play to him once or twice and then go.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• twelve
• xii