Etymologically
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ace

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈeɪ̯s/[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English as, later ace, borrowed from Old French as (“one at dice”),[2][3][4] from Latin as (“a unit, one; a copper coin”) (genitive assis),[3][2][5] perhaps from Etruscan,[2][3] or related to Greek heîs, one.[3] The as was the Roman pound, at first twelve ounces but reduced by devaluation to half an ounce.[2][3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

One at dice, the side of the die with one spot: before 1250 in Barnhart, about 1300 in the OED and Etymonline.[2][6][3]

Semantic evolution

Since a single spot was the lowest throw, ace in Middle English also meant bad luck or something of no value.[3] The playing card with one pip is from 1533 (the 1530s).[6][3] Because the ace is often the highest card, senses of excellence arose in the 18th century as card-playing spread.[3][2][4] An airman who had shot down many enemy aircraft is from 1917, after French as (1915), used earlier of top sportsmen;[3][6][7] it soon extended to anyone who excels.[7] In tennis and badminton an unreturnable service is from 1889.[6] Ace in the hole, a concealed advantage, is from 1904, from stud poker,[3] and an ace up one's sleeve from the mid-19th century.[7] The verb, to score an ace, is from 1922 in tennis,[3] and in student slang, to get high marks, from 1959.[3] A dollar is American slang from 1921.[6]

Timeline

  • before 1250 – as, one at dice.[2]
  • 1533 – the playing card.[6]
  • 18th century – the best.[4]
  • 1889 – in tennis.[6]
  • 1917 – a fighter pilot.[3][6]
  • 1922 – the verb.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A playing card, die or domino with a single spot.
  2. (tennis) A serve the opponent cannot return.
  3. (golf) A hole in one.
  4. A fighter pilot who has shot down several enemy aircraft.
  5. (informal) An expert at something.

Adjective

  1. (informal) Excellent; first-rate.

Verb

  1. To serve an ace against an opponent.
  2. (informal) To get a top grade in an examination.

Word family

  • ace-high
  • acey-deucey
  • ace point
  • ace in the hole

Usage notes

In Norfolk dialect ace and douce meant wholly, entirely.[8]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  8. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)