The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

Data Terminal Equipment
DTE

    (DTE) A device which acts as the
   source and/or destination of data and which controls the
   communication channel.  DTE includes terminals, computers,
   protocol converters, and multiplexors.

   DTE is usually connected via an EIA-232 serial line to
   Data Communication Equipment (DCE), typically a modem.  It
   is necessary to distinguish these two types of device because
   their connectors must be wired differently if a
   "straight-through" cable (pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2 etc.)
   is to be used.  DTE should have a male connector and should
   transmit on pin three and receive on pin two.  It is a curious
   fact that many modems are actually "DTE" according to the
   original standard.

   (1995-02-28)