poulter's measure

[ pohl-terz ]
/ ˈpoʊl tərz /

noun Prosody.

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

Origin of poulter's measure

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

Words nearby poulter's measure