This corresponds to the French word for "two", deux, which in turn came from the Latin duos and duo. On the introduction of playing cards into the German language area at the end of the 14th century, the word was also transferred to the cards with the value 2.

Also frequently known as the deuce and a half, or just deuce, this nickname was popularized post WWII, most likely in the Vietnam war era. The basic cargo versions were designed to transport a cargo load of nominally 21 D2 short tons (5,000 lb; 2,300 kg) over all terrain, in all weather.