deuce

¹

[ doos, dyoos ]

noun

1. Cards. a card having two pips; a two, or two-spot.
2. Dice.
   1. the face of a die having two pips.
   2. a cast or point of two.
3. Tennis. a situation, as a score of 40–40 in a game or 5–5 in a match, in which a player must score two successive points to win the game or two successive games to win the set.
4. Slang.
   1. a two-dollar bill.
   2. the sum of two dollars.

adjective

1. (especially in games, sports, and gambling) two.

deuce

²

[ doos, dyoos ]

noun

1. devil; dickens (used as a mild oath):

   Where the deuce did they hide it?

deuce

¹

/ djuːs /

interjection

1. an expression of annoyance or frustration

noun

1. the deuce
   intensifier used in such phrases as what the deuce, where the deuce, etc

deuce

²

/ djuːs /

noun

1. 1. a playing card or dice with two pips or spots; two
   2. a throw of two in dice
2. tennis a tied score (in tennis 40-all) that requires one player to gain two successive points to win the game

Word History and Origins

Origin of deuce¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English deus, dewes, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin duōs (masculine accusative of duo ) “two”

Origin of deuce²

First recorded in 1645–55; apparently to be identified with deuce ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of deuce¹

C17: probably special use of deuce ¹(in the sense: lowest throw at dice)

Origin of deuce²

C15: from Old French deus two, from Latin duos, accusative masculine of duo two

Example Sentences

At deuce the great one double faults to reach match point for a third time.

From The Daily Beast

“When we got to school, he had already started a gang called Deuce,” Maroulis explains.

From The Daily Beast

They began tagging the word "deuce" around campus and saying “deuce” a lot.

From The Daily Beast

Once even a blue bean (a bullet) made sad work with my head, and my fist has got a deuce of a smashing.

From Project Gutenberg

A butcher's boy, running against a gentleman with his tray, made him exclaim, "The deuce take the tray!"

From Project Gutenberg

The deuce of it is that, personally, I love this man; his eye speaks to me, I am pleased in his society.

From Project Gutenberg

The deuce fly away with literature, for the basest sport in creation.

From Project Gutenberg

You're mistaken about that, madame, for his infatuation for the mistress doesn't keep him from playing the deuce with her maid.

From Project Gutenberg

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