/doohz"pearz'/ , n.pl., sing., douzeper /-pear'/ .
1. Fr. Legend. the 12 peers or paladins represented in old romances as attendants of Charlemagne.
2. Fr. Hist. the 12 great spiritual and temporal peers of France, taken to represent those of Charlemagne.
Also, douceperes .
[ 1175-1225; ME dusze pers (pl.) douze pers (pl.) twelve equals. See DOZEN 1 , PEER 1 ]