twelve
/twɛlv/ noun C2- A group of twelve items. · Fractions would be a little easier if we counted by twelves.
- A twelve-bore gun.
- A jury (normally composed of twelve persons).
- The police; law enforcement, especially a narcotics officer.
- Front (front side of something, position in front of something). · watch your twelve· For quotations using this term, see Citations:twelve.
Plural twelves
From the library
When I draw your attention to the strong t’s of ‘at’ and ‘to’, and ask you to compare them with the weak ones of ‘quarter’ and ‘twelve,’ you will instantly recognise the fact.
“It was last night, sir, somewhere about twelve.”
Alice glanced rather anxiously at the cook, to see if she meant to take the hint; but the cook was busily stirring the soup, and seemed not to be listening, so she went on again: “Twenty-four hours, I _think_; or is it twelve?
It was at a quarter to twelve, as a matter of fact.”
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