duke

[ dook, dyook ]

/ duk, dyuk /

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noun

(in Continental Europe) the male ruler of a duchy; the sovereign of a small state.

a British nobleman holding the highest hereditary title outside the royal family, ranking immediately below a prince and above a marquis; a member of the highest rank of the British peerage.

a nobleman of corresponding rank in certain other countries.

a cultivated hybrid of the sweet and sour cherry.

dukes, Slang. fists; hands: Put up your dukes.

verb (used with object), duked, duk·ing.

Slang. to hit or thrash with the fists (sometimes followed by out): He duked me because he said I had insulted him.The bully said he was going to duke out anyone who disagreed.

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Idioms about duke

duke it out, to fight, especially with the fists; do battle: The adversaries were prepared to duke it out in the alley.

Origin of duke

First recorded in 1100–50; Middle English duke, duc, late Old English duc, from Old French duc, dus, dux, from Medieval Latin dux “hereditary ruler of a small state,” Latin: “leader”; see dux; def. 5 dukes (in the sense “fists”) of unclear derivation and perhaps of distinct origin

Words nearby duke

Duisenberg, du jour, duka, Dukakis, Dukas, duke, dukedom, duked up, dukes, Dukhobor, dukka

Other definitions for duke (2 of 2)

Duke

[ dook, dyook ]

/ duk, dyuk /

noun

Benjamin Newton, 1855–1929, and his brother, James Buchanan, 1856–1925, U.S. industrialists.

a male given name.

How to use duke in a sentence

The British media reported that the duke will probably remain in hospital over the weekend and into next week.
Prince Harry and Meghan lose their patronages, won’t return as ‘working royals’|William Booth, Karla Adam|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
It’s been decades since Duke and UNC both missed NCAA tournament, but it could happen this yearOklahoma State thought the ban was too severe and appealed.
NCAA tournament bracketology: Oklahoma State will probably make it despite its postseason ban|Patrick Stevens|January 26, 2021|Washington Post
After I proposed to the love of my life back in October, we stayed at Duke’s to celebrate our engagement.
This country is a risky place to be a parent, and the pandemic reminded me of that|Haley Swenson|January 14, 2021|Washington Post
Duke is one of the teams whose small sample size makes it hard to accurately assess.
NCAA tournament bracketology: Figuring out the one-bid leagues will be a chore during the pandemic|Patrick Stevens|January 12, 2021|Washington Post

After college at Purdue, Egger got a job in the dairy department of General Mills, where she worked for three years before enrolling in business school at Duke.
Startups are racing to reproduce breast milk in the lab|Katie McLean|December 18, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Duke was a state representative whose neo-Nazi alliances were disgorged in media reports during his run for governor in 1991.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Scalise never would have spoken to EURO had Duke been there in person.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But after winning 55 percent of the white vote, Duke had a database of supporters some politicians coveted.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The “doctorate” Duke claims is from an anti-Semitic Ukranian “diploma mill” as described by the State Department.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“I did not contribute to him, he did not contribute to me,” Duke said.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Without preface, he abruptly asked, what had been told him of the Duke of Wharton's behaviour the preceding night.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
One evening, while he was thus engaged, he observed de Patinos and Duke Wharton enter together.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Martini was on his mission to Vienna; but another valet was put into the chariot to support the Duke.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Wharton and Louis had withdrawn their hands at the same instant they caught his eye; and the Duke turned into the circle.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
The Duke found no difficulty in awakening the wishes, which were necessary to his scheme, in the mind of young Lorraine.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter

British Dictionary definitions for duke

duke

/ (djuːk) /

noun

a nobleman of high rank: in the British Isles standing above the other grades of the nobility

the prince or ruler of a small principality or duchy

Other words from duke

Related adjective: ducal

Word Origin for duke

C12: from Old French duc, from Latin 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

duke

Idioms about duke

Origin of duke

Words nearby duke

Other definitions for duke (2 of 2)

Words related to duke

How to use duke in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for duke

Other words from duke

Word Origin for duke