baker's dozen

baker's dozen
   an informal unit of quantity, equal to 13. Bakers sometimes toss in anextra item for each dozen bought, making a total of 13. This custom is veryold, dating at least from the thirteenth century, when the weights and pricesof loaves of bread were strictly regulated by royal proclamations called assizes,and bakers could be jailed if they failed to provide fair weight at thelisted prices.

Dictionary of units of measurement. 2015.

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  • 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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