deuce1

[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
5.
(especially in games, sports, and gambling) two.
Origin
1425-75; late Middle English deus < Anglo-French, Middle French: two < Latin duōs (masculine accusative of duo)

deuce2

[doos, dyoos] /dus, dyus/
noun
1.
devil; dickens (used as a mild oath):
Where the deuce did they hide it?
Origin
1645-55; apparently to be identified with deuce1
Examples from the web for deuce
  • He deftly carved off a volley winner cross-court to even the game at deuce.
  • Then there's the guys who leave a deuce on the floor next to the toilet.
  • East would have taken dummy's ten with his queen and shifted to the heart deuce.
  • Then it is best to cash the diamond ace before returning the heart deuce.
  • West cashed the heart queen, then shifted to the spade deuce.
  • East found a zone play: she led the club deuce despite playing high-low with a doubleton.
  • The river is all clear-no brush and fast as the deuce good wading all the way.
  • South won with dummy's queen and led the deuce of clubs: six, ten, ace.
  • She continued with the club deuce, a suit-preference signal for diamonds, the lower-ranking of the other two side suits.
  • These are the wild cards he adds to strengthen what would otherwise be a deuce-high hand.
British Dictionary definitions for deuce

deuce1

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

deuce2

/djuːs/
interjection
1.
an expression of annoyance or frustration
noun
2.
(intensifier) the deuce, used in such phrases as what the deuce, where the deuce, etc
Word Origin
C17: probably special use of deuce1 (in the sense: lowest throw at dice)
Word Origin and History for deuce
n.

late 15c., "the 2 in dice or cards," also "a roll of 2 in dice" (1510s), from Middle French deus (Modern French deux), from Latin duos (nominative duo) "two" (see two).

Became a mild oath by 1710, about 50 years after it was first attested in the sense of "bad luck, the devil, etc.," perhaps because two was the lowest score, and probably by similarity to Latin deus and related words meaning "god." Low German had der daus! in same sense 16c., which perhaps influenced the English form. Deuce coupe is 1940s hot-rodder slang for "souped up two-door car," especially a 1932 Ford. Related: Deuced; deucedly.

Slang definitions & phrases for deuce

deuce

noun
  1. A two of playing cards (1680+)
  2. Two dollars •Formerly, and still in Canada, a two-dollar bill (1920+)
  3. A two-year prison sentence: did a deuce together at Joliet (1950s+ Prison)
  4. A quitter; coward; petty thief (1940s+ Street gang)
  5. (also deuce coupe) A powerful or handsome specially prepared two-door car, esp a 1932 Ford (1940s+ Hot rodders)
  6. A table for two in a restaurant: deuce in the corner
Related Terms

ace-deuce, forty-deuce

[hot-rod sense probably fr the two or deuce of 1932]