baker’s dozen

baker’s dozen
a phrase meaning 13. It comes from the fact that in the past people who sold bread always added an extra loaf when somebody ordered a dozen (= 12) loaves, in case they might be punished for supplying too few.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • baker's dozen — A Baker s dozen is 13 rather than 12 …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • baker's dozen — ► baker s dozen a group of thirteen. [ORIGIN: from the former bakers custom of adding an extra loaf to a dozen sold to a retailer.] Main Entry: ↑baker …   English terms dictionary

  • baker's dozen — n. thirteen: supposedly from bakers former practice of adding an extra roll to each dozen sold to avoid any risk of penalty for short measure …   English World dictionary

  • baker's dozen — n [singular] thirteen of something …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • baker's dozen — noun singular OLD FASHIONED 13 of something …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Baker's dozen — A baker s dozen, also known as a long dozen and a long measure , is 13, one more than a proper dozen. The expression found its genesis in 13th century England, when an Assize of Bread and Ale was introduced. Then, it was commonly called the long… …   Wikipedia

  • baker's dozen — noun the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one • Syn: ↑thirteen, ↑13, ↑XIII, ↑long dozen • Hypernyms: ↑large integer * * * noun [singular] old fashioned : thirteen of something a baker s dozen of books [=thirteen books] …   Useful english dictionary

  • baker's dozen — {n.}, {informal} Thirteen. * / How many of the jelly doughnuts, Sir? the salesclerk asked. Oh, make it a baker s dozen. / …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • baker's dozen — {n.}, {informal} Thirteen. * / How many of the jelly doughnuts, Sir? the salesclerk asked. Oh, make it a baker s dozen. / …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • baker's\ dozen — noun informal thirteen. How many of the jelly doughnuts, Sir? the salesclerk asked. Oh, make it a baker s dozen …   Словарь американских идиом

  • baker's dozen —    A Baker s dozen is 13 rather than 12.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

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