duke

The definition of a duke is a high hereditary title in England, or is a ruler of certain small independent states in Europe.

(noun)

A man holding a high hereditary title in England is an example of a duke.

See duke in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a prince who rules an independent duchy
a nobleman of the highest hereditary rank below that of prince
any of several varieties of cherry created by crossing a sweet cherry with a sour cherry

Origin: ME duk < OFr duc < L dux, leader < ducere, to lead: see duct

Related Forms:

noun

Slang the fists or hands

Origin: < duke, short for Duke of York, used in 19th-c. E rhyming slang for fork, hence fingers, hence fist

transitive verb, intransitive verb duked, duking

Slang to hit or fight with the fists

See duke in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A nobleman with the highest hereditary rank, especially a man of the highest grade of the peerage in Great Britain.
A sovereign prince who rules an independent duchy in some European countries.
Abbr. D. or Du. Used as the title for such a nobleman.
Slang A fist. Often used in the plural: Put up your dukes!
Botany A type of cherry intermediate between a sweet and a sour cherry.