Duke

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /djuːk/, /dÊ’uːk/
• US IPA: /duːk/
• Rhymes: -uːk

Origin

From Old French duc, from Latin dux.

Full definition of duke

Noun

1. The male ruler of a duchy (compare duchess).
2. A high title of nobility; the male holder of a dukedom.
3. A grand duke.
4. (slang, usually in plural) A fist.Put up your dukes!This is thought to be derived from where Duke(s) of York = Fork. Fork is itself cockney slang for hand, and thus fist.

Hypernyms

• nobility

Coordinate terms

• prince, monarch, baron, count, countess, earl, marquess, marquis, viscount

Derived terms

Related terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To hit or beat with the fists.
• It seems that PI Rainer was duked by his wife and he explores his feelings of being on the receiving end of a beating with the gal who is the object of their $300 case, Leila Burnett ...
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Derived terms