# First, second ~ 1, 2 ~ ?, deuce **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2019, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532 "2019-11-16T07:26:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/1 "2019-11-16T07:26:09Z")
This is probably easy but I swear I tried to look it up. My googlfu being what it is, failed me. Anyway, what word represents the “1” place if deuce represents the 2? I suspect it has something to do with a French corruption but that’s Deux. The dictionaries give definitions of dice and card pips and tie in tennis. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/2 "2019-11-16T07:40:56Z")
1-2-3 == ace-deuce-trey There are also words for 4-5-6, but obsolete. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/3 "2019-11-16T12:34:04Z")
Another vote for ace. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/4 "2019-11-16T13:30:17Z")
A similar-ish [thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=507631) from long ago. I’ve seen the sequence cater, cinque, sice for continuing but not sure which situations those apply to. (Dice vs. cards.) The real question: what’s the matching word for “zero”? “Love”, “naught”, … ? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/5 "2019-11-16T15:22:06Z")
Ace seems to be it, thanks. Also thanks for the link to the other thread. Fascinating stuff. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/6 "2019-11-16T16:58:46Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I’ve seen the sequence cater, cinque, sice for continuing but not sure which situations those apply to. (Dice vs. cards.) The other thread shows [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) links for cater, cinque, sice. I clicked just now, but only the cinque definition survives. Perhaps one reason ‘cater == 4’ has disappeared is the near-collision with a usage shown in the other thread: 8: eighter from Decatur ‘Deuce’ is rather well-known, I think, but I wonder how many non-players know ‘trey.’ One reason ‘trey’ survives might be the (American?) usage where, e.g. former Congressman Harold Watson Gowdy III has the nickname ‘Trey’ (== III). Some numbers at the craps table: Eleven == Ee-oh-leven, front-line favorite Any nine == center-field nine Any five == no-field five. When playing backgammon, Kyle Larsen called ‘4 4’ the ‘Cats’ — because the dice land on all fours. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/7 "2019-11-16T17:18:31Z")
Too soon to suggest “Uno, Dos, One, Two, Tres, Quatro”? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/8 "2019-11-16T19:37:36Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Some numbers at the craps table: > Eleven == Ee-oh-leven, front-line favorite > Any nine == center-field nine > Any five == no-field five. Some my father taught me from his playing craps in the Navy: Two: Snake eyes Four: Little Joe (from Kokomo) Twelve: Boxcars ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/9 "2019-11-16T20:01:20Z")
There is a form of backgammon called acey-deucy. The throw of a 1-2 is very special. You play the 1 and 2 (if you cannot play them both you lose the rest of the turn) then play a double of your choice and then roll again. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/10 "2019-11-16T22:40:24Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > ‘Deuce’ is rather well-known, I think, but I wonder how many non-players know ‘trey.’ > One reason ‘trey’ survives might be the (American?) usage where… Really, I know it from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. [https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/c7d3aa6c-e6eb-432b-931f-2a88cf645960](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/c7d3aa6c-e6eb-432b-931f-2a88cf645960) But then again I had to watch it daily for longer than I car to remember - young daughter. . ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/11 "2019-11-16T23:58:20Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Too soon to suggest “Uno, Dos, One, Two, Tres, Quatro”? [SPOILER]_ **Wooly Bullyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!** _ Watch it, now. Watch it, watch it![/SPOILER] ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/12 "2019-11-21T17:47:15Z")
Just yesterday I heard for the first time…not in dice, cards, but…a Bingo game at an old-age home: Chicken legs (for 11). My wife said she’d heard it before, but only from her late mother when _she_ came home from Bingo. Does that number name exist in other situations? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/13 "2019-11-21T17:50:44Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > ‘Deuce’ is rather well-known, I think, but I wonder how many non-players know ‘trey.’ > One reason ‘trey’ survives might be the (American?) usage where, e.g. former Congressman Harold Watson Gowdy III has the nickname ‘Trey’ (== III). “Trey” also has gotten a fair amount of usage in recent decades as slang for [a three-point shot in basketball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-point_field_goal). ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/14 "2019-11-21T18:25:11Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > ‘Deuce’ is rather well-known, I think, but I wonder how many non-players know ‘trey.’ > One reason ‘trey’ survives might be the (American?) usage where, e.g. former Congressman Harold Watson Gowdy III has the nickname ‘Trey’ (== III). Also, Randy “Trey” Parker III, co-creator of _South Park_ and Trey Griffey, grandson of baseball player Ken Griffey and son of Ken, Jr. ---
**Author:** ![vonespy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vonespy/32/6204_2.png) [@vonespy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vonespy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/15 "2019-11-21T19:33:36Z")
Bill Gates III (yes, that Bill Gates) had the nickname “Trey”. Trey seems to be more common that one might expect. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/16 "2019-11-21T21:05:17Z")
I’m kind of wondering what prompted the question, because the only place I’ve ever seen “deuce” widely used is for playing cards, where “ace” is much more widely known. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/17 "2019-11-21T23:52:18Z")
There’s another, more scatalogical meaning of the word “deuce,” having to do with elimination. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/18 "2019-11-22T01:45:53Z")
Well, yes, but that follows indirectly from the number, and playing cards are the only context where I’ve seen “deuce” mean “2”. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/19 "2019-11-22T02:20:52Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m kind of wondering what prompted the question, because the only place I’ve ever seen “deuce” widely used is for playing cards, where “ace” is much more widely known. I was watching Family Guy and Stewie once again referred to pooping as ‘taking a deuce’. Unbelievably it was just then that it dawned on me that deuce=number two. I’m not a card player so I didn’t make that connection. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532/20 "2019-11-22T10:19:10Z")
I dimly recall ‘deuce’ being a slang term for $2 and/or $200. Googling just now I see Google has the same recollection, though its is also very dim! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532.md?page=2)