dozens

Variant of dozen

dozen definition

dozen (duz′ən)

noun pl. dozens -·ens, dozen -·en

  1. a set of twelve
  2. a large number

Etymology: ME dozeine < OFr dozaine < douze, twelve < L duodecim, twelve < duo, two + decem, ten

Related Forms:

dozen Idioms

the dozens

☆
Slang a form of verbal play in which the participants exchange witty, ribald taunts and insults, often specif. about each other's mother
often in the phrase play the dozens: used first, and chiefly, by African-Americans

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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