deuce

1 of 2

noun

ˈdüs

also ˈdyüs

plural deuces

a(1)

: the face of a die that bears two spots

(2)

: a playing card bearing an index number two

: a throw of the dice yielding two points

: a tie in tennis after each side has scored 40 requiring two consecutive points by one side to win

: devil, dickens

—used chiefly as a mild oath

what the deuce is he up to now

: something notable of its kind

a deuce of a mess

informal : the fecal matter expelled during one bowel movement

—usually used in the phrase drop a deuce

If you live in new dorms and you need to drop a deuce in private, just walk down to the first floor and use the bathroom that is traditionally reserved for parents and visitors.

Veronica Sirotic

deuce

2 of 2

verb

deuced; deucing

transitive verb

: to bring the score of (a tennis game or set) to deuce

Example Sentences

Noun She beat her opponent after eight deuces.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Unlike tennis, there is no deuce or advantage, and the ball speeds can reach up to 150 mph.

Fox News, 9 Aug. 2022 Perez-Somarriba took a 40-15 lead in the 10th game, but Forbes fought off two match points to force a sixth deuce game in the final set.

Alex Schwartz, sun-sentinel.com, 26 May 2021 Nakashima serving at deuce at 1-1 made for a convenient time for Kyrgios to start jawing with the chair umpire.

Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 July 2022 The teen survived a six-deuce game on his serve to go up 2-0.

Beth Harris, ajc, 20 Mar. 2022 Watch in front of City Hall as a lighted deuce of clubs card lowers to bring in 2022.

Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 22 Dec. 2021 Serving to stay in the match, Hurkacz was at deuce when Djokovic edged a 25-shot rally to forge a first match point.

Jerome Pugmire, ajc, 6 Nov. 2021 Half of those eight games in the final set reached deuce before Aggarwal finished off the history-making win.

Nate Fields, The Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2021 But the Russian double faulted on championship point and then again at deuce to give Djokovic the advantage.

Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 12 Sep. 2021

Verb

The first set of Wednesday’s three-hour, 27-minute match at Arthur Ashe Stadium featured an epic, 20-point game that went to deuce seven times.

Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2021 With the score 5-5 and Keys serving, Stephens jumped to 0-40 lead, only to see Keys dismiss three break points and get back to deuce.

Alex Coffey, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2021 Despite a weak second serve, Berrettini held serve in a game that went to deuce six times, cutting Djokovic’s lead to 4-2.

Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2021 The system uses no-advantage scoring, meaning the player or team that wins deuce will win the game — that is, instead of needing to win a game by two points, one point will suffice.

Beth Bragg, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Oct. 2020 Azarenka, a two-time major champion who was in her first final in seven years, had three chances to break back at 0-40 in the next game, but Osaka fought back to deuce and had her biggest hold of the match when Azarenka hit a forehand long.

Wayne Coffey, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2020 After the game went to deuce five times, Andreescu hit a backhand into the net to give Williams the advantage and Williams won the game with a forehand, cutting Andreescu’s lead to 4-3.

Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2019 Although the first three games went at least to deuce, Osuigwe quickly asserted command in going up a break.

Craig Davis, Sun-Sentinel.com, 11 Dec. 2017 Television broadcasts showed that Kerber’s shot had, in fact, landed out, which would have brought the score to deuce.

Ben Rothenberg, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2016 See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English dwsse, dews, dewes, borrowed from Anglo-French deus "two" (continental Old French dous, masculine accusative), going back to Latin duōs, accusative of duo; (sense 3) perhaps of independent origin; (sense 4) probably alluding to number two — more at two entry 1

Note: In expressions such as "a deuce on him," "a deuce take me," current from the 1650's, deuce is clearly a euphemism for "devil." The reason for the choice of deuce rather than another word has inspired several explanations, none entirely satisfactory. The editors of the Oxford English Dictionary, first edition, apparently following an article by A.L. Mayhew (The Academy, vol. 41, no. 1030, January 30, 1892, pp. 11-12) propose that deuce was borrowed from Low German duus in the same sense: "compare German daus, Low German duus, used in precisely the same way, in the exclamatory der daus! was der daus …! Low German de duus! wat de duus!" A Low German source is not specified by the editors, but Daus is entered in Grimm's Deutsches Wörterbuch with the meaning "deuce" in cards and dice, and as a euphemism for "devil" (Teufel, Low German Düvel). The parallel with English deuce is noted, but there is no suggestion that the English word was borrowed from German. This is indeed a weakness of Mayhew's hypothesis: the parallelism connecting the two languages does not necessarily imply borrowing of the word itself, and borrowing would not in any case explain why in particular duus/daus developed a secondary meaning.

Verb

derivative of deuce entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1919, in the meaning defined above

单词	deuce
释义	deuce 1 of 2 noun ˈdüs also ˈdyüs plural deuces 1 a(1) : the face of a die that bears two spots (2) : a playing card bearing an index number two b : a throw of the dice yielding two points 2 : a tie in tennis after each side has scored 40 requiring two consecutive points by one side to win 3 a : devil, dickens —used chiefly as a mild oath what the deuce is he up to now b : something notable of its kind a deuce of a mess 4 informal : the fecal matter expelled during one bowel movement —usually used in the phrase drop a deuce If you live in new dorms and you need to drop a deuce in private, just walk down to the first floor and use the bathroom that is traditionally reserved for parents and visitors. Veronica Sirotic deuce 2 of 2 verb deuced; deucing transitive verb : to bring the score of (a tennis game or set) to deuce Example Sentences Noun She beat her opponent after eight deuces. Recent Examples on the Web Noun Unlike tennis, there is no deuce or advantage, and the ball speeds can reach up to 150 mph. Fox News, 9 Aug. 2022 Perez-Somarriba took a 40-15 lead in the 10th game, but Forbes fought off two match points to force a sixth deuce game in the final set. Alex Schwartz, sun-sentinel.com, 26 May 2021 Nakashima serving at deuce at 1-1 made for a convenient time for Kyrgios to start jawing with the chair umpire. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 July 2022 The teen survived a six-deuce game on his serve to go up 2-0. Beth Harris, ajc, 20 Mar. 2022 Watch in front of City Hall as a lighted deuce of clubs card lowers to bring in 2022. Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 22 Dec. 2021 Serving to stay in the match, Hurkacz was at deuce when Djokovic edged a 25-shot rally to forge a first match point. Jerome Pugmire, ajc, 6 Nov. 2021 Half of those eight games in the final set reached deuce before Aggarwal finished off the history-making win. Nate Fields, The Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2021 But the Russian double faulted on championship point and then again at deuce to give Djokovic the advantage. Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 12 Sep. 2021 Verb The first set of Wednesday’s three-hour, 27-minute match at Arthur Ashe Stadium featured an epic, 20-point game that went to deuce seven times. Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2021 With the score 5-5 and Keys serving, Stephens jumped to 0-40 lead, only to see Keys dismiss three break points and get back to deuce. Alex Coffey, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2021 Despite a weak second serve, Berrettini held serve in a game that went to deuce six times, cutting Djokovic’s lead to 4-2. Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2021 The system uses no-advantage scoring, meaning the player or team that wins deuce will win the game — that is, instead of needing to win a game by two points, one point will suffice. Beth Bragg, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Oct. 2020 Azarenka, a two-time major champion who was in her first final in seven years, had three chances to break back at 0-40 in the next game, but Osaka fought back to deuce and had her biggest hold of the match when Azarenka hit a forehand long. Wayne Coffey, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2020 After the game went to deuce five times, Andreescu hit a backhand into the net to give Williams the advantage and Williams won the game with a forehand, cutting Andreescu’s lead to 4-3. Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2019 Although the first three games went at least to deuce, Osuigwe quickly asserted command in going up a break. Craig Davis, Sun-Sentinel.com, 11 Dec. 2017 Television broadcasts showed that Kerber’s shot had, in fact, landed out, which would have brought the score to deuce. Ben Rothenberg, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2016 See More Word History Etymology Noun Middle English dwsse, dews, dewes, borrowed from Anglo-French deus "two" (continental Old French dous, masculine accusative), going back to Latin duōs, accusative of duo; (sense 3) perhaps of independent origin; (sense 4) probably alluding to number two — more at two entry 1 Note: In expressions such as "a deuce on him," "a deuce take me," current from the 1650's, deuce is clearly a euphemism for "devil." The reason for the choice of deuce rather than another word has inspired several explanations, none entirely satisfactory. The editors of the Oxford English Dictionary, first edition, apparently following an article by A.L. Mayhew (The Academy, vol. 41, no. 1030, January 30, 1892, pp. 11-12) propose that deuce was borrowed from Low German duus in the same sense: "compare German daus, Low German duus, used in precisely the same way, in the exclamatory der daus! was der daus …! Low German de duus! wat de duus!" A Low German source is not specified by the editors, but Daus is entered in Grimm's Deutsches Wörterbuch with the meaning "deuce" in cards and dice, and as a euphemism for "devil" (Teufel, Low German Düvel). The parallel with English deuce is noted, but there is no suggestion that the English word was borrowed from German. This is indeed a weakness of Mayhew's hypothesis: the parallelism connecting the two languages does not necessarily imply borrowing of the word itself, and borrowing would not in any case explain why in particular duus/daus developed a secondary meaning. Verb derivative of deuce entry 1 First Known Use Noun 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1) Verb 1919, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing deuce a deuce of drop a deuce a deuce of a time a deuce of drop a deuce a deuce of a time deuce noun as in dickens Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance dickens archfiend fiend serpent devil Old Nick Satan Beelzebub Lucifer Mephistopheles
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deuce

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing deuce

noun