banker's dozen

English

Etymology

A play on the phrase baker's dozen; it is one less than a dozen as compared to one more.

Noun

banker's dozen (plural banker's dozens)

1. (idiomatic, uncommon) Eleven
2. (banking, finance, idiomatic) By analogy, a method of lending where the interest is deducted beforehand, archetypally borrowing twelve dollars (owing twelve dollars back, a dozen) but actually receiving only eleven.