deuce

[ doos, dyoos ]

See synonyms for deuce on Thesaurus.com

noun

Cards. a card having two pips; a two, or two-spot.
Dice.
- the face of a die having two pips.
- a cast or point of two.

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.
Slang.
- a two-dollar bill.
- the sum of two dollars.

adjective

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

Origin of deuce

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

Words Nearby deuce

Other definitions for deuce (2 of 2)

deuce²

[ doos, dyoos ]

noun

devil; dickens (used as a mild oath): Where the deuce did they hide it?

Origin of deuce

First recorded in 1645–55; apparently to be identified with deuce¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use deuce in a sentence

At deuce the great one double faults to reach match point for a third time.
Upset for the Ages | Touré | September 15, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
“When we got to school, he had already started a gang called deuce,” Maroulis explains.
Shopping With an Idol | Spencer Morgan | August 5, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
They began tagging the word "deuce" around campus and saying “deuce” a lot.
Shopping With an Idol | Spencer Morgan | August 5, 2009 | 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.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.
A butcher's boy, running against a gentleman with his tray, made him exclaim, "The deuce take the tray!"
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | Various

The deuce of it is that, personally, I love this man; his eye speaks to me, I am pleased in his society.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25) | Robert Louis Stevenson
The deuce fly away with literature, for the basest sport in creation.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25) | Robert Louis Stevenson
You're mistaken about that, madame, for his infatuation for the mistress doesn't keep him from playing the deuce with her maid.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence | Eugne Sue

British Dictionary definitions for deuce (1 of 2)

deuce¹

/ (djuːs) /

noun

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

Origin of deuce

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

British Dictionary definitions for deuce (2 of 2)

deuce²

/ (djuːs) informal /

interjection

an expression of annoyance or frustration

noun

the deuce (intensifier) used in such phrases as what the deuce, where the deuce, etc

Origin of deuce

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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