Poetry Guide: Poulter's Measure

In poetry, Poulter's measure is a meter consisting of alternate Alexandrines and Fourteeners (12 and 14 syllable lines, respectively), often used in the Elizabethan era. The term was coined by George Gascoigne, because poulters, or poulterers (sellers of poultry), would sometimes give 12 to the dozen, and other times 14.