I. ˈdüs also ˈdyüs noun
Etymology: Middle English dewes, from Anglo-French deus two, from Latin duos, accusative masculine of duo two — more at two
Date: 15th century
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.
[obsolete English deuce bad luck]
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
II. transitive verb
( deuced ; deuc·ing )
Date: 1919
: to bring the score of (a tennis game or set) to deuce