Etymologically
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thirteen

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌθɜːˈtiːn/, /ˈθɜː.tiːn/ (UK); /ˌθɝtˈtin/, /ˌθɝtin-/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English thrittene, inherited from Old English þrēotēne (Mercian, West Saxon þrēotīene),[2][3] from þrēo (“three”) and -tēne (“-teen”) (see three and -teen).[2][3][4] Similar formations are Old Saxon thriutein, Old Frisian thretten, Dutch dertien, German dreizehn and Old Norse þrettán.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Before 900 in the OED and Barnhart.[5][3] The present form, by metathesis of r and i, is from the 15th century: thyrtene before 1398 in Barnhart, thirteen in the late 14th century in Etymonline (compare third).[3][2][4]

Semantic evolution

The noun is from late Old English.[2] Thirteen was not an unlucky number in medieval England, but was rather linked with the customary extra item, as in a baker's dozen.[2][6] The superstition grew from the Last Supper, and the bad luck of thirteen sitting down to dine is attested from the 1690s; most modern superstitions, such as floors numbered 12A, have developed since 1890.[2] Thirteen-pence-halfpenny was said to be a hangman's wage, from about 1470.[5]

Timeline

  • before 900 – þrēotēne.[5][3]
  • c. 1200 – thrittene.[3]
  • before 1398 – thyrtene.[3]
  • 1690s – thirteen at table as unlucky.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The cardinal number equal to twelve plus one, written 13 or XIII.
  2. A set or group of thirteen.

Adjective

  1. Amounting to thirteen.

Word family

  • thirteenth
  • thirteen-lined ground squirrel

Usage notes

In Ireland a thirteen was an English shilling, worth thirteen Irish pence when the two currencies differed.[7]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  4. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  7. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)