dozen

1
[ duhz-uh n ]
/ ˈdʌz ən /

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

a group of 12.
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

Origin of dozen

1
1250–1300; Middle English dozeine < Old French do(u)zaine, equivalent to do(u)ze (< Latin duodecim) + -aine (< Latin -āna) -an

Words nearby dozen

Definition for dozen (2 of 2)

dozen 2
[ doh-zuh n ]
/ ˈdoʊ zən /

verb (used with object) Scot.

to stun.

Origin of dozen

2
1325–75; Middle English (Scots); see doze1

Example sentences from the Web for dozen

British Dictionary definitions for dozen

dozen
/ (ˈdʌzən) /

determiner

(preceded by a or a numeral)
  1. twelve or a group of twelvea 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 plural dozens or dozen

by the dozen in large quantities
talk nineteen to the dozen to talk without stopping
See also dozens

Derived forms of dozen

dozenth, adjective

Word Origin for dozen

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

Idioms and Phrases with dozen

dozen

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