Grosses

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A total revenue or income generated from sales before any deductions or expenses are taken into account
2. An informal term often used to describe something that is unpleasant or distasteful
3. The total amount of weight or bulk of something, not considering its net weight or value

Etymology: This term originates from the Old French word "grosse," which meant a large quantity, typically a dozen dozen, or 144 items. The plural form "grosses" directly stems from this numeral concept, used to denote multiples of 144 units. This counting method was particularly practical in trade and commerce, allowing merchants to easily quantify large batches of goods without enumerating each one individually. The use of "gross" as a noun dates back to the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century, when standardization of measures became increasingly important for market transactions. Its adoption into English followed closely, borrowed through Anglo-Norman influences. The term’s root traces back to the Latin "grossus," meaning "thick" or "large," which also gave rise to English words like "gross" in the sense of "large-scale" or "total." As a verb, it emerged later, particularly in commercial contexts, meaning to total or amount to a gross sum. This verbal usage reflects the transition from a concrete quantity—144 items—to an abstract financial total. The verb form typically appears with financial or accounting jargon, where "to gross" means to earn or produce a total amount before deductions. Throughout its history, the term maintained its connection to largeness or entirety, whether counting physical goods or summing financial figures. Its survival in English reflects the enduring need for convenient quantification in trade, and the linguistic journey from a simple measure to a broader commercial sense highlights the adaptability of numerical terms in language.

Synonyms: earnings, revenues, profits, incomes

Antonyms: losses, deficits, expenses