General
dukes
What does dukes mean?
A person's fists, especially when raised to fight.
"He raised his dukes the second things got heated."
Origin
Longstanding American/NYC slang; 'dukes' for fists, of debated (possibly Cockney) origin.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'dukes' mean?
'Dukes' means a person's fists, especially when raised to fight.
Where does 'dukes' come from?
It's longstanding American and NYC slang for fists, with a debated origin often traced to Cockney rhyming slang.
How do you use 'dukes'?
Use it for raised fists, like 'He raised his dukes the second things got heated.'
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