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 term “score” as a unit of measurement dates back to ancient times and is famously known from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, in which he refers to “four score and seven years ago,” meaning 87 years. A score traditionally signifies a group of 20, which has its origins in Old Norse with the word “skor,” referring to a notch, tally, or mark made for counting. Interestingly, this concept of counting in groups of 20 can be traced back to shepherds who would keep track of their flocks by marking a notch every 20 sheep in a counting stick.
Scores have also found their way into cultural contexts. For instance, the term “score” is used in sports and games to indicate points. In this sense, it symbolizes not just a numerical value but the essence of achievement and success. By linking numeric value to milestones, score as a unit demonstrates the interplay between language and cultural development over centuries.
| Half Dozen | Scores |
|---|---|
0
half-dozen
|
0
scores
|
0.5
half-dozen
|
0.15
scores
|
1
half-dozen
|
0.3
scores
|
1.5
half-dozen
|
0.45
scores
|
2
half-dozen
|
0.6
scores
|
2.5
half-dozen
|
0.75
scores
|
3
half-dozen
|
0.9
scores
|
3.5
half-dozen
|
1.05
scores
|
4
half-dozen
|
1.2
scores
|
4.5
half-dozen
|
1.35
scores
|
5
half-dozen
|
1.5
scores
|
5.5
half-dozen
|
1.65
scores
|
6
half-dozen
|
1.8
scores
|
6.5
half-dozen
|
1.95
scores
|
7
half-dozen
|
2.1
scores
|
7.5
half-dozen
|
2.25
scores
|
8
half-dozen
|
2.4
scores
|
8.5
half-dozen
|
2.55
scores
|
9
half-dozen
|
2.7
scores
|
9.5
half-dozen
|
2.85
scores
|
10
half-dozen
|
3
scores
|
10.5
half-dozen
|
3.15
scores
|
11
half-dozen
|
3.3
scores
|
11.5
half-dozen
|
3.45
scores
|
12
half-dozen
|
3.6
scores
|
12.5
half-dozen
|
3.75
scores
|
13
half-dozen
|
3.9
scores
|
13.5
half-dozen
|
4.05
scores
|
14
half-dozen
|
4.2
scores
|
14.5
half-dozen
|
4.35
scores
|
15
half-dozen
|
4.5
scores
|
15.5
half-dozen
|
4.65
scores
|
16
half-dozen
|
4.8
scores
|
16.5
half-dozen
|
4.95
scores
|
17
half-dozen
|
5.1
scores
|
17.5
half-dozen
|
5.25
scores
|
18
half-dozen
|
5.4
scores
|
18.5
half-dozen
|
5.55
scores
|
19
half-dozen
|
5.7
scores
|
19.5
half-dozen
|
5.85
scores
|
20
half-dozen
|
6
scores
|
20.5
half-dozen
|
6.15
scores
|
21
half-dozen
|
6.3
scores
|
21.5
half-dozen
|
6.45
scores
|
22
half-dozen
|
6.6
scores
|
22.5
half-dozen
|
6.75
scores
|
23
half-dozen
|
6.9
scores
|
23.5
half-dozen
|
7.05
scores
|
24
half-dozen
|
7.2
scores
|
24.5
half-dozen
|
7.35
scores
|
25
half-dozen
|
7.5
scores
|
25.5
half-dozen
|
7.65
scores
|
26
half-dozen
|
7.8
scores
|
26.5
half-dozen
|
7.95
scores
|
27
half-dozen
|
8.1
scores
|
27.5
half-dozen
|
8.25
scores
|
28
half-dozen
|
8.4
scores
|
28.5
half-dozen
|
8.55
scores
|
29
half-dozen
|
8.7
scores
|
29.5
half-dozen
|
8.85
scores
|
30
half-dozen
|
9
scores
|
30.5
half-dozen
|
9.15
scores
|
31
half-dozen
|
9.3
scores
|
31.5
half-dozen
|
9.45
scores
|
32
half-dozen
|
9.6
scores
|
32.5
half-dozen
|
9.75
scores
|
33
half-dozen
|
9.9
scores
|
33.5
half-dozen
|
10.05
scores
|
34
half-dozen
|
10.2
scores
|
34.5
half-dozen
|
10.35
scores
|
35
half-dozen
|
10.5
scores
|
35.5
half-dozen
|
10.65
scores
|
36
half-dozen
|
10.8
scores
|
36.5
half-dozen
|
10.95
scores
|
37
half-dozen
|
11.1
scores
|
37.5
half-dozen
|
11.25
scores
|
38
half-dozen
|
11.4
scores
|
38.5
half-dozen
|
11.55
scores
|
39
half-dozen
|
11.7
scores
|
39.5
half-dozen
|
11.85
scores
|
40
half-dozen
|
12
scores
|
40.5
half-dozen
|
12.15
scores
|
41
half-dozen
|
12.3
scores
|
41.5
half-dozen
|
12.45
scores
|
42
half-dozen
|
12.6
scores
|
42.5
half-dozen
|
12.75
scores
|
43
half-dozen
|
12.9
scores
|
43.5
half-dozen
|
13.05
scores
|
44
half-dozen
|
13.2
scores
|
44.5
half-dozen
|
13.35
scores
|
45
half-dozen
|
13.5
scores
|
45.5
half-dozen
|
13.65
scores
|
46
half-dozen
|
13.8
scores
|
46.5
half-dozen
|
13.95
scores
|
47
half-dozen
|
14.1
scores
|
47.5
half-dozen
|
14.25
scores
|
48
half-dozen
|
14.4
scores
|
48.5
half-dozen
|
14.55
scores
|
49
half-dozen
|
14.7
scores
|
49.5
half-dozen
|
14.85
scores
|
50
half-dozen
|
15
scores
|
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