Duke meaning
A man holding a high hereditary title in England is an example of a duke.
Put up your dukes!
Duking it out.
Put up your dukes!
This is thought to be derived from Cockney rhyming slang where Duke(s) of York = Fork. Fork is itself cockney slang for hand, and thus fist.
- To fight, esp. with the fists.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
Origin of duke
- Middle English from Old French duc from Latin dux duc- leader from dūcere to lead deuk- in Indo-European roots N., sense 4, short for Duke of Yorks rhyming slang for forks fingers
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Wiktionary