Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DOZ'EN, a. [duz'n; Fr. douzaine; Arm. douçzenn; from Fr. douze, twelve; Norm. Fr. dudzime, a dozen; Sp. doce, twelve; docena, a dozen; Port. duzia, dozen; It. dozzina, id.; D. dozyn; G. duzend, or dutzend; Sw. dussin; Dan. dusin. Qu. two and ten, G. zehn. The composition of the word is not obvious.]

Twelve in number, applied to things of the same kind, but rarely or never to that number in the abstract. We say, a dozen men; a dozen pair of gloves. It is a word much used in common discourse and in light compositions; rarely in the grave or elevated style.