Middle English Dictionary Entry
dosein(e num.
Entry Info
| Forms | dosein(e num. Also dosan, -en(ne, -in, dozein(e, -en, dossein, -en, -in, (error) desenne & dussein, dusan, dussen, duzein. Pl. dosein(e)s. |
| Etymology | OF dozain(e, dousain(e. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
As adj.: twelve; as noun: a dozen.
Associated quotations
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.578 : Ther were a dozeyne in that hous Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond Of any lord.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.164 : Dauwe þe disschere and a doseyn oþere.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11407 : Quen ani deid o þat dozein, His sun for him was sett again.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)658 : Maistres he haueþ two doseyn.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5830 : He gan hym were..And slouȝ a-rawe two duzeyn.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)4.37 : For a dozeine chickenes.
- (1410) Will York in Sur.Soc.4548 : De j dosan de vasibus.
- (1420-1) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.465 : iiii dossenis bursarum de corio.
- (a1425) Stonor1.40 : For ix dozen of breede.
- (1425) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.187/1468 : For iiij dosseyn of Cuppis.
- (1428-9) Rec.St.Mary at Hill71 : For v dossen candell for þe chirche.
- (1429) Will York in Sur.Soc.4420 : A bowe and a dosan arows.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.3 TDWorld (Corp-C 296)182 : Þei wole make many doseyns to forsweren hem.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)127 : Doseyne: Duodena.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)231 : As if oon man of a doseyn be aweie.
- (1444) Will Daubeney in Som.RS 19341 : A dosyn spones.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)5615 : Agayn on off oure Crystene-men, þere were a doseyn be þe leste.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)280 : A dusan of bestis.
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)67 : viii dussen oþer capons..x dosen Curlewes.
- (1452-4) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)344/13 : Whit Cuppes j dussein.
- (1454-5) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15159 : William Rowe, Bruer, gaf j dossen Ale.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)135/24 : Manye dosyns of comaundementis.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)111 : A Dusane: duodena.
- a1500 Weights in RHS ser.3.41 (Vsp E.9)12 : That all maner of weyghtes be made be unces or pounds or dossynnes, viz. xiiths.
2.
As noun: cloth woven to a length of not less than 12 feet; also, a length of such cloth; brod ~, a strip of this cloth of double width [see brod adj. 5].
Associated quotations
- (1433) RParl.4.451b : Proclamation shold be made yurghoute the Roialme, yat no persone makyng soche manere Cloth and doseins withine the said Reaume, ye same Clothes or doseins ne shall nat takke ne plyte afore the awnour have duely made his serche and oversight of soche Clothes and doseins, that thei holde her length and brede by the said last Estatut ordeigned..yat yis said worde 'Cloth' in the seid Statutes aforne rehersed have relation and understondyng to hole Clothes called brode Clothes and brode doseins, and not to other Clothes.
- (1439) RParl.5.30b : Mesurynge for the dosenne of wete Clothe xii yerdes and xii ynches, and of secce Clothe nought wete xiiii yerdes and xiiii ynches..the said Kepere of Aunage..takyng for his laboure for every hole Clothe of brood Cloth 1 d., and for every dosenne brode Clothe ob, and for every hole Clothe of streite ob, and for every desenne of streite Clothe q.
- a1525(?1437) Cov.Leet Bk.187 : That euery walker withe-in this Cite ffro this tyme fforwarde walke no Cloth & wete hym, but yeff the seyde Cloth bere the lengeth off xxiiij yerdes atte leste, and euery dossen xij yerdes atte lest.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475 Limn.Bks. (Brog 2.1:Clarke) 196/27 : If ȝe woll make fyne redys, ȝe moste take to a dosyne .iij. pownd of alome, and to crimesons the same when ȝe boyle hem.
- a1475 Limn.Bks. (Brog 2.1:Clarke) 198/3 : Ȝe moste make ȝour flote fore ȝour maderyng for ȝour violettes and ȝour morreys: and to a dosyn of violettes .viij. pownd of madyre, and to a dosyn off morreys .vj. li.
Note: Need date, sense 2. New spelling = dosin(e.