n.
Pronunciation: ' d ə -z ə n
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural dozens or dozen
Etymology: Middle English dozeine, from Anglo-French duzeine, dozeyne, from duze twelve, from Latin duodecim, from duo two + decem ten ― more at TWO , TEN
Date: 13th century
1 : a group of 12
2 : an indefinitely large number < dozen s of times>
3 plural but singular in construction : a ritualized word game that consists of exchanging insults usually about the members of the opponent's family ― used with the
– dozen adjective
– doz · enth \ -z ə n(t)th \ adjective