dozen

¹

[duhz-uhn]

noun

plural

dozens ,

plural

dozen .

1. a group of 12.

2. Slang.,  the dozens, 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 phraseplay the dozens ).

adjective

1. twelve.

dozen

²

[doh-zuhn]

verb (used with object)

Scot.

1. to stun.

dozen

/ ˈdʌzən /

determiner

1. 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. in large quantities

2. See baker's dozen

3. to talk without stopping

Other Word Forms

• dozenth 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

Gerrymandering aside, a pending Supreme Court decision that could gut the Voting Rights Act might deliver Republicans well over a dozen seats, greatly increasing the odds of the GOP maintaining power.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Chen was one of around 250 hostages taken during the attack, including around a dozen U.S. nationals, according to the Hostages Families Forum, an advocacy group.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Now, more than a dozen US states are openly mulling plans to redraw voting lines - known as political gerrymandering.

Read more on BBC

Republicans have a 53-47 Senate majority, and so far, only three senators who caucus with Democrats have crossed the aisle in more than a dozen failed votes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

More than a dozen passenger airlines’ departures from the Louisville airport have been delayed Tuesday, including flights operated by Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, according to FlightAware, which tracks traffic.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• twelve