dozen

Where does the word "dozen" come from? It comes from Latin duodecim, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Dozen’s story begins in Latin: duodecim meant “twelve.” Twelve, from duo (two) and decem (ten). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as dozeine. Carried into French for a group of twelve. It reached English by 1300s as dozen. Settled as the English word for a group of twelve. Today, dozen means a group or set of twelve.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient duodecim "twelve", twelve, from duo (two) and decem (ten).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval dozeine "a group of twelve", carried into French for a group of twelve.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s dozen "a group of twelve", settled as the English word for a group of twelve.