Nightly "What is the origin of that phrase?"

[caledesi]

Well tonight folks we have the expression "baker's dozen."

How did this expression originate?

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[AlabamaYankee]

1. goes back to medieval times

baakers could face severe penalties for undercounting and under weighing their breads and flour. To ensure they had enough, they would put an extra loaf in a dozen

[caledesi]

5. Ding! Ding! Ding! First to answer correctly. Congrats to AlabamaYankee!

Yes, during the Middle Ages in England there were severe penalties for anyone who gave short weight. Bakers were often uneducated and unable to count. To guard against miscounting twelve as eleven they habitually gave thirteen loaves when selling a dozen.

Now don't you all feel good having this useless information every night?

edit: typo

[pmbryant]

2. Well, I didn't win last night and I'm not going to win tonight

But I will patiently await the answer.

And I so much wanted that free email spam. :D

--Peter

[kixot]

3. Some law saying a dozen had to have a certain weight

bakers would cheat and sell a dozen slightly smaller buns (or whatever) and scrimp on the profits by streaching out the ingredients. Law was passed (in France, I think) stating that a dozen had to weigh a certain amount so to reassure customers bakers would throw in an extra, thus 13.

[Robb]

4. I seem to recall a parable

...involving some wizened old woman yelling "Noo! One more cookie!!" at some hapless baker.

However, having no recall on the specifics, this can hardly be defined as an answer... :shrug:

[onebigbadwulf]

6. nm

nm