English word twelve comes from Proto-Germanic *twai (Two.), Proto-Germanic *-lif
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *twai | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Two. |
| *-lif | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *twalif | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Twelve. |
| twelf | Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) | (cardinal) twelve. |
| twelve | Middle English (1100-1500) (enm) | |
| twelve | English (en) | The cardinal number occurring after eleven and before thirteen, represented in Arabic numerals as 12 and in Roman numerals as XII. (legal, colloquial) A jury (normally composed of twelve persons).. (slang) police; law enforcement, especially a narcotics officer. A group of twelve items.. A twelve-bore gun. |