Duke definition

do͝ok, dyo͝ok
duked dukes duking
See word origin
Frequency:
A sovereign prince who rules an independent duchy in some European countries.
noun
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The title of a duke.
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(botany) A type of cherry intermediate between a sweet and a sour cherry.
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The definition of a duke is a high hereditary title in England, or is a ruler of certain small independent states in Europe.

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

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A nobleman with the highest hereditary rank, especially a man of the highest grade of the peerage in Great Britain.
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(slang) The fists.

Put up your dukes!

noun
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To fight, especially with fists.

Duking it out.

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A prince who rules an independent duchy.
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A nobleman of the highest hereditary rank below that of prince.
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Any of several varieties of cherry created by crossing a sweet cherry with a sour cherry.
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The fists or hands.
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To hit or fight with the fists.
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The male ruler of a duchy (compare duchess).
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A high title of nobility; the male holder of a dukedom.
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A grand duke.
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(slang, usually in plural) A fist.

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.

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To hit or beat with the fists.
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A male given name; mostly US and rather rare.
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A private university in North Carolina.
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Used as the title for such a nobleman.
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duke it out
  • to fight, esp. with the fists
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
duke
Plural:
dukes

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

  • From Old French duc, from Latin dux.

    From Wiktionary

Duke Sentence Examples

  • In 1814-1815, before the decrees of the Vienna Congress were known, an extraordinary attempt was made by Philippe d'Auvergne of the British navy, the cousin and adopted son of the last duke, to revive the ancient duchy of Bouillon.

  • The Grand Duke was there because it suited him to be.

  • Having borne the title of duke of Montpensier until his grandfather's death in 1752, he became duke of Chartres, and in 1769 married Louise Marie Adelaide de Bourbon-Penthievre, daughter and heiress of the duke of Penthievre, grand admiral of France, and the richest heiress of the time.

  • Henry, the Duke of Richmond, made war upon him and defeated him in a great battle.

  • The duke of Dorset's reappointment to the lord-lieutenancy in 1751, with his son Lord George Sackville as secretary of state for Ireland, strengthened the primate's position and enabled him to triumph over the popular party on the constitutional question as to the right of the Irish House of Commons to dispose of surplus Irish revenue, which the government maintained was the property of the Crown.

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Words near duke in the Dictionary