dozen

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
dozen/ˈdʌzn/

▶noun

• 1 (pl. same) a group or set of twelve.

  ■ informal a lot.

• 2 (the dozens) a ritual exchange of insults among black Americans.

– phrases
talk nineteen to the dozen Brit. talk incessantly.

– derivatives
dozenth adjective.

– origin ME: from OFr. dozeine, based on L. duodecim ‘twelve’.