twelve

The cardinal number occurring after eleven and before thirteen, represented in Arabic numerals as 12 and in Roman numerals as XII.

There are twelve months in a year.

Hopper points out that duodecads have been prominent in every ancient civilization and cites as examples twelve spokes in the wheel of the Hindu Rta, the twelve gates of hell where Egyptian Ra must spend the twelve hours of night, the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve labors of Hercules, [...]

A group of twelve items.

Fractions would be a little easier if we counted by twelves.

A twelve-bore gun.

In this way Von Esslin ‘inherited’ two fine hammerless twelves which he used once or twice for duck on the Camargue.

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.