Dictionary

12 en · NOUN · etymology 1

Etymology

Of uncertain origin. Widespread use of the phrase as an anti-police slogan grew following the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. * Possibly from 1312, an alternative form of ACAB (“all cops are bastards”) in which the letters are substituted with their position in the alphabet. * Alternatively, from the American police procedural television series Adam-12 (1968–1975), in which 1-Adam-12 refers to a patrol unit and its radio call sign. Likely popularized by "F*ck 12", a song by American hip-hop group Migos from their 2013 mixtape Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas), which uses 12 in reference to the police while describing a narcotics raid: “12 kickin' in my front door […] 12 in my home, they won't leave me alone”.

Meanings

1. (US, countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable) Police or law enforcement, collectively.
   • fuck 12

Forms

wikipedia: Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas) · wikipedia: Migos · wikipedia: Adam-12 · wikipedia: killing of Michael Brown