duke

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. a British peer of the highest rank
  2. a nobleman (in various countries) of high rank
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Duke \Duke\ (d[=u]k) v. i. To play the duke. [Poetic] [1913 Webster]

Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence. -- Shak. [1913 Webster]

duke \duke\ (d[=u]k) v. t. To beat with the fists. [slang] [PJC]

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. [PJC]

Duke \Duke\ (d[=u]k), n. [F. duc, fr. L. dux, ducis, leader, commander, fr. ducere to lead; akin to AS. te['o]n to draw; cf. AS. heretoga (here army) an army leader, general, G. herzog duke. See Tue, and cf. Doge, Duchess, Ducat, Duct, Adduce, Deduct.]

1.A leader; a chief; a prince. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Hannibal, duke of Carthage.— Sir T. Elyot.[1913 Webster]
All were dukes once, who were "duces"— captains or leaders of their people. --Trench.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

3.In some European countries, a sovereign prince, without the title of king. [1913 Webster]

4.pl. The fists; as, put up your dukes. [slang] [PJC]

Duke's coronet. See Illust. of Coronet.

To dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without dinner. See under Dine. [1913 Webster]

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