Origin of the term "the dozens"

[Harriet J Ottenheimer]

I believe some words currently in use (I am sure there are more that I
don't know about) are jonesing, cutting, cut-lows, and ranking.
--Harriet Ottenheimer

Ronald Kephart wrote:

> Robin Queen wrote:
>
> >Can someone on the list tell me where the term "the dozens" or
> >"playing the dozens" comes from?  Also, is this a term that is no
> >longer being used to describe ritualized verbal duelling among
> >speakers of AAE and if so, is there a term that is being used
> >instead.
>
> Robin,
>
> According to Geneva Smitherman (Talkin and Tesifyin: The language of
> Black America, Houghton Mifflin 1977, page 132):
>
> "The term "Dozens" probably comes from the fact that the original
> verses involved twelve sex acts, each stated in such a way as to
> rhyme with the numbers 1 to 12.
>
> Can't help with your second question.
>
> Ronald Kephart
> Assistant Professor and Coordinator
> Program in Foreign Languages
> University of North Florida