2007-08-04 16:38:06 · 9 answers · asked by Toni C 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
The oldest known source and most probable origin for the expression "baker's dozen" dates to the thirteenth century in one of the earliest English statutes, instituted during the reign of Henry III (r. 1216-1272), called the Assize of Bread and Ale. Bakers who were found to have shortchanged customers could be liable to severe punishment. To guard against the punishment of losing a hand to an axe, a baker would give 13 for the price of 12, to be certain of not being known as a cheat. Specifically, the practice of baking 13 items for an intended dozen was to prevent "short measure", on the basis that one of the 13 could be lost, eaten, burnt or ruined in some way, leaving the baker with the original dozen. The practice can be seen in the guild codes of the Worshipful Company of Bakers in London.
2007-08-04 16:43:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
There are conflicting stories: Story A]: Many, many years ago bakers sold to each other in lots or packages of thirteen [13]. This was a larger quantity to work with. When a retail customer asked for “a dozen . . . ”, the baker gave the retail customer twelve [12]. The baker increased the profit on the product by a little over 6%.
Story B]: To protect himself from being accused of short-changing a customer, THEN because of that accusation being reported to the king or queen who would punish that baker, the baker would give an extra amount of a product to a customer. Doing this protected the baker from getting a hand. chopped off.
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Ron B.
2007-08-04 17:13:17 · answer #2 · answered by Ron Berue 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because you have a dozen and one left over for the baker...13.
2007-08-04 21:02:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A baker's dozen, also known as a long dozen, is 13, one more than a proper dozen.
2007-08-04 16:42:03 · answer #4 · answered by Georgia Peach 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A baker gives you twelve which is a dozen then an extra one just for your convienince. I can't spell convienince. I think I spelled it wrong. Lol
2016-03-12 20:53:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
'Cause the baker has to try one to make sure they turned out OK, right? Sooo . . . 13 - that's a baker's dozen!
2007-08-04 16:42:56 · answer #6 · answered by JSail 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bakers used to give 13 for the price of twelve to prevent any accusation of cheating the customer, for which they could be severely punished.
2007-08-04 16:42:27 · answer #7 · answered by barbara 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So the baker can taste his product without shorting the customers or his profit for the day.
2007-08-04 18:07:36 · answer #8 · answered by ovrundrandthru 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once upon a time they made 13 instead of 12
2007-08-04 16:40:52 · answer #9 · answered by yoji6365 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋