Duke
Duke (dūk) , noun
[French duc, from Latin dux, ducis, leader, commander, from ducere to lead; akin to Anglo-Saxon teón to draw; compare Anglo-Saxon heretoga (here army) an army leader, general, German herzog duke. See Tue, and compare Doge, Duchess, Ducat, Duct, Adduce, Deduct.]
1.
A leader; a chief; a prince. [Obsolete]
Hannibal, duke of Carthage.
All were dukes once, who were “duces” -- captains or leaders of their people.
2.
In England, one of the highest order of nobility after princes and princesses of the royal blood and the four archbishops of England and Ireland.
3.
In some European countries, a sovereign prince, without the title of king.
4.
The fists; as, put up your dukes. [slang]
Duke (dūk) , intransitive verb
To play the duke. [Poetic]
Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence.
duke (dūk) , transitive verb
To beat with the fists. [slang]
Collocations (1)
to duke it out , to fight; -- usually implying, to fight with the fists; to settle a dispute by fighting with the fists. See duke, n. sense 4.