a group of 13; a dozen plus one: from the former practice among bakers and other tradespeople of giving 13 items to the dozen as a safeguard against penalties for short weights and measures.
Origin
1590-1600
Examples from the web for baker's dozen
So the three of us split a baker's dozen, two egg sandwiches, and five coffees.
He's in tremendous shape to extend it to a baker's dozen after sinking eight birdies today.
You'd think they'd throw in a jelly donut there and make it a baker's dozen, but times are tight.
Check out our baker's dozen of free and low-cost activities.
The same idea applies to the baker's dozen, a discount on a set of tires or selling beer and soft drinks by the pitcher.
British Dictionary definitions for baker's dozen
baker's dozen
noun
1.
thirteen
Word Origin
C16: from the bakers' former practice of giving thirteen rolls where twelve were requested, to protect themselves against accusations of giving light weight
baker's dozen in Culture
baker's dozen definition
Thirteen; bakers once provided an extra roll with every dozen sold.
Idioms and Phrases with baker's dozen
baker's dozen
Thirteen, as in The new bagel store always gives you a baker's dozen. The origins of this term are disputed. One theory is that in times when bread was sold by weight, bakers who short-weighted their customers were heavily fined, and for safety's sake they would sell thirteen loaves for the price of twelve. Another theory is that dealers purchasing bread from bakers were allowed by law to receive thirteen loaves for the price of twelve, the thirteenth representing their cut of profit. [ Late 1500s ]