Playing the dozens is an African-American custom in which two competitors -- usually males -- go head to head in a competition of comedic trash talk. They take turns "cracking on," or insulting, one another, their adversary's mother or other family member until one of them has no comeback. In the U.S., the practice can be traced back to chattel slavery, when violence among slaves was a property crime with potentially draconian consequences. Verbal sparring became a substitute for physical contention. While the competition on its face is usually light-hearted, smiles sometimes mask real tensions.
The dozens can be a harmless game, or, if tempers flare, a prelude to physical violence. But in its purest form, the dozens is part of an African-American custom of verbal sparring, of "woofin'" (see wolf ticket) and "signifyin'," intended to defuse conflict amicably, descended from an oral tradition rooted in traditional West African cultures. The dozens is a contest of personal power -- of wit, self-control, verbal ability, mental agility and mental toughness. Defeat can be humiliating; but a skilled contender, win or lose, may gain respect.
"Yo' mama," a common, widely recognized argumentative rejoinder in African-Amercan vernacular speech, is a cryptic reference to the dozens.
The term "the dozens" refers to the devaluing on the auctionblock of slaves who were past their prime, who were aged or who, after years of back-breaking toil, no longer were capable of hard labor. These enslaved human beings often were sold by the dozen.
(My wording from Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia.)
The dozens can be a harmless game, or, if tempers flare, a prelude to physical violence. But in its purest form, the dozens is part of an African-American custom of verbal sparring, of "woofin'" (see wolf ticket) and "signifyin'," intended to defuse conflict amicably, descended from an oral tradition rooted in traditional West African cultures. The dozens is a contest of personal power -- of wit, self-control, verbal ability, mental agility and mental toughness. Defeat can be humiliating; but a skilled contender, win or lose, may gain respect.
"Yo' mama," a common, widely recognized argumentative rejoinder in African-Amercan vernacular speech, is a cryptic reference to the dozens.
The term "the dozens" refers to the devaluing on the auctionblock of slaves who were past their prime, who were aged or who, after years of back-breaking toil, no longer were capable of hard labor. These enslaved human beings often were sold by the dozen.
(My wording from Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia.)
by deeceevoice September 25, 2004
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Two different origins for the name "dozens" are hypothesized: (1) that the term comes from the losing throw of 12 in craps, or (2) that it comes from the practice of selling retarded or damaged slaves "by the dozen" at slave auctions.
Two different origins for the name "dozens" are hypothesized: (1) that the term comes from the losing throw of 12 in craps, or (2) that it comes from the practice of selling retarded or damaged slaves "by the dozen" at slave auctions.
Woe to the fool who played dozens with Willie, only to walk away after hearing "your momma so poor, her face on food stamps."
by Shayana Kadidal July 26, 2004
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by cornholio October 18, 2003
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Example of the dozens
Sam-I fucked your mom
John- I fucked your sister and your mom
Sam- FUCK OFF JOHN
John-haha bitch you lose
Sam-I fucked your mom
John- I fucked your sister and your mom
Sam- FUCK OFF JOHN
John-haha bitch you lose
by JdogClanPS3 October 11, 2013
Get the the dozens mug."Jimmy and Frank played the dozens and Jimmy was winning until he said somethin' about Frank's Mama."
by Tone Def February 25, 2005
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