Forms 3–4 ambes as, -z as, 4–5 ambes aas, 6–7 ambes ace, 6–9 ambs ace. Also 4 amys ase, 6 aums ase, 6–7 aumes-, aums-, amnes-, 6–9 ames-, 7 alms-, 8 ams-, am’s-, ame’s ace. [a. OFr. ambes as:—L. ambas as, both ace: see ACE.]
1. lit. Both aces, double ace, the lowest possible throw at dice; hence, fig. bad luck, misfortune; worthlessness, nought, next to nothing.
1297. R. Glouc., 51. Ac he caste þer of ambes as.
c. 1300. Beket, 450. Thu ert icome therto to late: thu hast icast ambez as.
c. 1400. Beryn, 2955. I bare thre dise, in myne owne purs … I kist hem forth al three, and too fil amys ase.
c. 1430. Lydg., Minor Poems (1840), 166. Whos chaunce gothe neyther on synk nor sice, But withe ambes aas encresithe his dispence.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, II. iii. 85. I had rather be in this choise, than throw Ames-ace for my life.
1611. Cotgr., Besas, Aumes-ace, on the dice.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Clev. Vind. (1677), 28. In whom Dame Nature tries To throw less than Aums Ace upon two Dice.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), VI. 81. Idly vent’ring her good Graces To be disposed of by Alms-Aces.
1721. Mrs. Centlivre, Gamest., I. i. 136. My evil Genius flings Am’s Ace before me.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., iii. 56. Nobody can certainly foretell, that sice-ace will come up upon two dies fairly thrown before ambs-ace.
1731. Fielding, Lottery (1755), I. 249. If I can but nick this time, ame’s-ace I defy thee.
1870. Lowell, Among My Books, Ser. I. (1873), 192. A lucky throw of words which may come up the sices of hardy metaphor or the ambs-ace of conceit.
2. The smallest point. Within ambs ace of, emph. form of ‘within an ace of’: on the very verge of. ? Obs.
1679. Trial of Langhorn, 18. His Wife was but aumes ace turned from a Devil.
1698. Vanbrugh, Æsop, V. i. Reduced within ambs-ace of hanging or drowning.
a. 1733. North, Examen, I. iii. ¶ 158. His Lordship was within Ams-ace of being put in the Plot.
1800. Mar. Edgeworth, Cast. Rackr., 28. Within ames-ace of getting quit … of all his enemies.
