the.com/gross
A word that simultaneously means disgusting, total, and 144 — context does the heavy lifting.
means Either revolting, or a total amount before deductions, or twelve dozen — depending entirely on usage.
from From Old French gros, meaning thick or coarse — same root that gave us grocer, the seller of bulk goods.
The numberA gross equals 144, twelve dozen exactly.
Big grossA great gross is 1,728 items.
Slang shiftTeen disgust usage exploded mid-20th century.