Ten to the dozen

I am trying to find out the meaning of the phrase "ten to the dozen", refering to speed, like when people say a child is "running fast and his little legs were going ten to the dozen". I thought it meant they were going really fast but 10 to the dozen seems inefficient to me. Can anyone explain? And the origin of the saying? Thanks.

A more frequently heard and more logical phrase is "sixteen to the dozen." I've never heard "ten to the dozen." SS

The phrase I am familiar with is 'nineteen to the dozen' - I too am unfamiliar with 'ten to the dozen' which doesn't make any sense (unless that was the intention.)

DFG

I, too, am familiar with 'nineteen to the dozen'

If you go to our Archive at www.phrases.org.uk bulletin_board 30 messages 1736.html
You'll find a previous discussion about 'nineteen to....'
I too have never heard of '16 to the dozen'.

I was raised in a small backwoods town I call Tinyville. It was too poor to have 19 to the dozen, they could only afford 16. SS