deuce

¹ American  

[doos, dyoos] / dus, dyus /

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 American  

[doos, dyoos] / dus, dyus /

noun

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

   Where the deuce did they hide it?

---

deuce ¹ British  

/ 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

---

deuce ² British  

/ djuːs /

interjection

1. an expression of annoyance or frustration

---

noun

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

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

“I moved a little bit in, especially on the deuce side,” he said.

From Seattle Times

Lehecka raced out to a 40-0 lead before a netted backhand, a Murray passing winner and a thumping forehand forced deuce.

From BBC

Her returns rose by a notch in caliber so she could break Rybakina after one deuce in the fourth game of the second set and after three deuces in the seventh game of the third.

From Washington Post

A cagey second set ended with Raducanu breaking once more, after being taken to deuce in the previous game.

From BBC

In the final game, she staved off six match points and took Tomljanovic to deuce eight times, just two words running through her mind even as the inevitable became clear: “More spin.”

From Washington Post

Related Words

• convict
• crook
• culprit
• felon
• fugitive
• gangster
• hoodlum
• hooligan
• lawbreaker
• mobster
• offender
• thug