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    Why is a baker's dozen 13?

    Question #69122. Asked by Allergic2Life. (Aug 01 06 11:13 AM)


    smartie806

    		In the 13th century, it prevented bakers from being called cheats.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker%27s_dozen

    Aug 01 06, 11:21 AM
    Brainyblonde

    		The second theory is more complicated. A baker selling to a third party (a street vendor, say) would add a 13th loaf as the profit for the middleman. That is, the baker sells the middleman 13 loaves for the price of 12, and the middle man sells the 13 individual loaves for a 7.7% profit.

    Whichever theory you accept, the evolution of the expression today has come to mean that the baker adds an extra cookie, bun, pastry or whatever to the order of 12 as a bonus.

    http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbakersdozen.html

    Aug 01 06, 12:27 PM

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