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deuce

In playing cards or dice, a deuce is defined as two spots. In tennis, a deuce is a tied score of 40 to 40 in a game or 5 to 5 in a set.

(noun)

An example of a deuce on a playing card is the two of hearts.

See deuce in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a playing card with two spots
the side of a die bearing two spots, or a throw of the dice totaling two
Origin: < Fr à deux de jeu
Tennis, Badminton, etc. a tie score (in tennis, 40 each, or any tie score beyond this), after which one player or side must score two successive points to win the game

Origin: ME deus, dewes < OFr deus < L duos, acc. of duo, two

noun

Brit., Slang devil; dickens: used, with the, only in interjectional phrases, as a mild oath or exclamation of annoyance, surprise, or frustration: what the deuce is he doing?

Origin: ME dewes, two in dice or cards, confused with dewes, God < OFr dieu & L deus (see deity): meaning in reference to low score at dice

See deuce in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A playing card having two spots or the side of a die bearing two pips.
b. A cast of dice totaling two.
A tied score in tennis in which each player or side has 40 points, or 5 or more games, and one player or side must win 2 successive points to win the game, or 2 successive games to win the set.

transitive verb deuced, deuc·ing, deuc·es

To make the score of (a tennis game or set) deuce.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English deus

Origin: , from Old French, two

Origin: , from Latin duōs

Origin: , masculine accusative of duo; see dwo- in Indo-European roots

noun

The devil: “Love is a bodily infirmity . . . which breaks out the deuce knows how or why” (Thackeray).
An outstanding example, especially of something difficult or bad: had a deuce of a time getting out of town; a deuce of a family row.
A severe reprimand or expression of anger: got the deuce for being late.
Used as an intensive: What the deuce were they thinking of?

Origin:

Origin: Probably from Low German duus, a throw of two in dice games, bad luck

Origin: , ultimately from Latin duo, two; see deuce¹

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