deuce

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deuce 2 in imprecatory phr. †a deuce on, the (†a) deuce take, what the (†a) deuce, plague, mischief, (later) the Devil. XVII. — LG. duus = G. daus, prob. to be identified ult. with prec. as a dicer's exclamation on making the lowest throw, viz. a two.

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