duchess

The definition of a duchess is a wife or widow of a duke, or a woman who has the rank of a duke in her own right.

(noun)

The wife of a duke is an example of a duchess.

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See duchess in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. the wife or widow of a duke
  2. a woman who has the rank of a duke

Origin: ME & OFr duchesse, fem. of duc, duke

See duchess in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. The wife or widow of a duke.
  2. A woman holding title to a duchy in her own right.
  3. Abbr. D. Used as the title for such a noblewoman.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English duchesse

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Medieval Latin ducissa

Origin: , from Latin dux, duc-, leader; see duke

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