noun
Common
duke
jook
Duke (noun) means a male ruler of a duchy, or a nobleman holding the highest rank below a prince. Example: “The duke inherited the estate from his late father.”
noun
1
A male ruler of a duchy, or a nobleman holding the highest rank below a prince.
"The duke inherited the estate from his late father."
"The duke welcomed his guests to the grand hall of his castle."
"In the play, the duke is a proud man who rules the region."
2
(slang, usually plural "dukes") A fist, especially in the phrase "put up your dukes."
"The old sailor grinned, put up his dukes and danced around the playground."
"He raised his dukes, ready to fight."
"In the cartoon, the little dog squared up and raised his tiny dukes."
verb
1
(informal) To hit with the fists, or to fight.
"The two of them duked it out behind the bar."
"The two heavyweights duked it out in the ring for twelve rounds."
"In the film, the old rivals duke it out in a boxing match."
2
(informal) To hand over money, especially as a tip or bribe.
"He duked the doorman twenty bucks to skip the line."
"She duked the waiter a few notes to get a better table."
"If you duke the porter, he will carry your bags up."
How to use duke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA high-ranking nobleman — or, in slang, a fist (as in "put up your dukes") or a payment handed over.
Common pairings
duke it out
put up your dukes
the duke and duchess
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Word forms
- Plural
- dukes
- Third person singular
- dukes
- Past tense
- duked
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The _____ inherited the estate from his late father.
Etymology
From Old French duc, from Latin dux, "leader." The slang sense meaning "fist" is thought to come from Cockney rhyming slang: "Duke of York" for "fork," itself old slang for "hand."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for duke
See all rhymes for duke →Frequently asked questions
What does “duke” mean?
The word “duke” means a male ruler of a duchy, or a nobleman holding the highest rank below a prince. In plain terms, a high-ranking nobleman — or, in slang, a fist (as in "put up your dukes") or a payment handed over.
How do you pronounce “duke”?
“Duke” is pronounced jook (/dʒuːk/ in IPA).
How do you use “duke” in a sentence?
Here is “duke” used in a sentence: “The duke inherited the estate from his late father.”
What part of speech is “duke”?
Depending on how it is used, “duke” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “duke” come from?
The word “duke” comes from Latin. From Old French duc, from Latin dux, "leader." The slang sense meaning "fist" is thought to come from Cockney rhyming slang: "Duke of York" for "fork," itself old slang for "hand.".
Is “duke” a common word?
“Duke” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “duke” have?
“Duke” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a male ruler of a duchy, or a nobleman holding the highest rank below a prince.
What is the difference between a duke and a prince?
A prince outranks a duke. A prince is usually a member of a royal family, often in line to a throne, while a duke holds the highest rank of nobility below a prince. Some dukes are royal (a royal duke), but the title itself sits one step under prince.
What is the female equivalent of a duke?
A duchess. She is either a woman who rules a duchy in her own right or, more commonly, the wife or widow of a duke. The territory associated with the title is called a duchy, and a duchess shares her husband's high rank within the nobility.
What are the ranks of British nobility?
From highest to lowest, the five ranks of the British peerage are duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron. Duke is the most senior, making it the closest rank to royalty. Each rank has a female equivalent, such as duchess, marchioness, and countess.
How do you address a duke?
A duke is formally addressed as 'Your Grace' rather than 'Your Highness,' which is reserved for royalty. In writing he may be styled 'The Duke of' followed by his territory. In casual reference, people simply call him 'the Duke.'
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