While we often think of a dozen as a straightforward count of 12, its counterpart, the half dozen, amounts to 6. Surprisingly, the half dozen has played a significant role throughout history and culture. Derived from the Old French word “douszain,” the dozen has deep roots in ancient measurements, with the half dozen naturally becoming a preferred unit for counting and packaging smaller quantities.
In baking, a half dozen is a common way to package or sell items like bagels or cupcakes, appealing for its simplicity and practicality. Beyond its culinary applications, the term “half dozen” is frequently used in expressions and idioms, highlighting the innate human preference for dealing with manageable chunks of numbers.
The “Long Hundred,” also known as a “Great Hundred,” might perplex many today as it stands at 120, instead of the standard 100. Rooted in historical and linguistic evolution, this ancient counting system was prevalent in Northern Europe, notably England and Germany, during the Middle Ages. This unconventional unit was used in various contexts, especially in calculations involving large quantities, such as trade goods or livestock. The Long Hundred illuminates how numbers were historically adapted to meet specific community needs and showcases the fluidity of numerical systems. As societies developed standardized counting methods, such unique units gradually fell out of use, yet they remind us of the rich tapestry of historical numeral lore.
| Half Dozen | Long Hundred |
|---|---|
0
half-dozen
|
0
long-hundred
|
0.5
half-dozen
|
0.025
long-hundred
|
1
half-dozen
|
0.05
long-hundred
|
1.5
half-dozen
|
0.075
long-hundred
|
2
half-dozen
|
0.1
long-hundred
|
2.5
half-dozen
|
0.125
long-hundred
|
3
half-dozen
|
0.15
long-hundred
|
3.5
half-dozen
|
0.175
long-hundred
|
4
half-dozen
|
0.2
long-hundred
|
4.5
half-dozen
|
0.225
long-hundred
|
5
half-dozen
|
0.25
long-hundred
|
5.5
half-dozen
|
0.275
long-hundred
|
6
half-dozen
|
0.3
long-hundred
|
6.5
half-dozen
|
0.325
long-hundred
|
7
half-dozen
|
0.35
long-hundred
|
7.5
half-dozen
|
0.375
long-hundred
|
8
half-dozen
|
0.4
long-hundred
|
8.5
half-dozen
|
0.425
long-hundred
|
9
half-dozen
|
0.45
long-hundred
|
9.5
half-dozen
|
0.475
long-hundred
|
10
half-dozen
|
0.5
long-hundred
|
10.5
half-dozen
|
0.525
long-hundred
|
11
half-dozen
|
0.55
long-hundred
|
11.5
half-dozen
|
0.575
long-hundred
|
12
half-dozen
|
0.6
long-hundred
|
12.5
half-dozen
|
0.625
long-hundred
|
13
half-dozen
|
0.65
long-hundred
|
13.5
half-dozen
|
0.675
long-hundred
|
14
half-dozen
|
0.7
long-hundred
|
14.5
half-dozen
|
0.725
long-hundred
|
15
half-dozen
|
0.75
long-hundred
|
15.5
half-dozen
|
0.775
long-hundred
|
16
half-dozen
|
0.8
long-hundred
|
16.5
half-dozen
|
0.825
long-hundred
|
17
half-dozen
|
0.85
long-hundred
|
17.5
half-dozen
|
0.875
long-hundred
|
18
half-dozen
|
0.9
long-hundred
|
18.5
half-dozen
|
0.925
long-hundred
|
19
half-dozen
|
0.95
long-hundred
|
19.5
half-dozen
|
0.975
long-hundred
|
20
half-dozen
|
1
long-hundred
|
20.5
half-dozen
|
1.025
long-hundred
|
21
half-dozen
|
1.05
long-hundred
|
21.5
half-dozen
|
1.075
long-hundred
|
22
half-dozen
|
1.1
long-hundred
|
22.5
half-dozen
|
1.125
long-hundred
|
23
half-dozen
|
1.15
long-hundred
|
23.5
half-dozen
|
1.175
long-hundred
|
24
half-dozen
|
1.2
long-hundred
|
24.5
half-dozen
|
1.225
long-hundred
|
25
half-dozen
|
1.25
long-hundred
|
25.5
half-dozen
|
1.275
long-hundred
|
26
half-dozen
|
1.3
long-hundred
|
26.5
half-dozen
|
1.325
long-hundred
|
27
half-dozen
|
1.35
long-hundred
|
27.5
half-dozen
|
1.375
long-hundred
|
28
half-dozen
|
1.4
long-hundred
|
28.5
half-dozen
|
1.425
long-hundred
|
29
half-dozen
|
1.45
long-hundred
|
29.5
half-dozen
|
1.475
long-hundred
|
30
half-dozen
|
1.5
long-hundred
|
30.5
half-dozen
|
1.525
long-hundred
|
31
half-dozen
|
1.55
long-hundred
|
31.5
half-dozen
|
1.575
long-hundred
|
32
half-dozen
|
1.6
long-hundred
|
32.5
half-dozen
|
1.625
long-hundred
|
33
half-dozen
|
1.65
long-hundred
|
33.5
half-dozen
|
1.675
long-hundred
|
34
half-dozen
|
1.7
long-hundred
|
34.5
half-dozen
|
1.725
long-hundred
|
35
half-dozen
|
1.75
long-hundred
|
35.5
half-dozen
|
1.775
long-hundred
|
36
half-dozen
|
1.8
long-hundred
|
36.5
half-dozen
|
1.825
long-hundred
|
37
half-dozen
|
1.85
long-hundred
|
37.5
half-dozen
|
1.875
long-hundred
|
38
half-dozen
|
1.9
long-hundred
|
38.5
half-dozen
|
1.925
long-hundred
|
39
half-dozen
|
1.95
long-hundred
|
39.5
half-dozen
|
1.975
long-hundred
|
40
half-dozen
|
2
long-hundred
|
40.5
half-dozen
|
2.025
long-hundred
|
41
half-dozen
|
2.05
long-hundred
|
41.5
half-dozen
|
2.075
long-hundred
|
42
half-dozen
|
2.1
long-hundred
|
42.5
half-dozen
|
2.125
long-hundred
|
43
half-dozen
|
2.15
long-hundred
|
43.5
half-dozen
|
2.175
long-hundred
|
44
half-dozen
|
2.2
long-hundred
|
44.5
half-dozen
|
2.225
long-hundred
|
45
half-dozen
|
2.25
long-hundred
|
45.5
half-dozen
|
2.275
long-hundred
|
46
half-dozen
|
2.3
long-hundred
|
46.5
half-dozen
|
2.325
long-hundred
|
47
half-dozen
|
2.35
long-hundred
|
47.5
half-dozen
|
2.375
long-hundred
|
48
half-dozen
|
2.4
long-hundred
|
48.5
half-dozen
|
2.425
long-hundred
|
49
half-dozen
|
2.45
long-hundred
|
49.5
half-dozen
|
2.475
long-hundred
|
50
half-dozen
|
2.5
long-hundred
|
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