ducal

[doo-kuh l, dyoo-]

adjective

of or relating to a duke or dukedom.

Origin of ducal

First recorded in 1485–95, ducal is from the Late Latin word ducālis of a leader. See duke, -al¹

Related formsun·du·cal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ducal

Historical Examples of ducal

He took careful aim in the direction of the ducal tent, and loosed the quarrel.
Love-at-Arms
Raphael Sabatini
And he waved a hand in the direction of the doors leading to the ducal chamber.
Love-at-Arms
Raphael Sabatini
And the colored marbles of the ducal palace fairly palpitate.
The Lure of the Mask
Harold MacGrath
That wasn't exactly the wording used by a ducal lord on Gram.
Space Viking
Henry Beam Piper
It is some of the ducal family, and one of their young Etonians.
Our Village
Mary Russell Mitford

British Dictionary definitions for ducal

ducal

adjective

of or relating to a duke or duchy

Derived Formsducally, adverb

Word Origin for ducal

C16: from French, from Late Latin ducālis of a leader, from dux leader

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ducal

adj.

late 15c., from Middle French ducal (15c.), from Late Latin ducalis, from Latin dux (genitive ducis); see duke (n.).