Main Entry:

¹duke

Pronunciation:

\ˈdük also ˈdyük\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French duc, from Latin duc-, dux, from ducere to lead — more at tow

Date:

12th century

1: a sovereign male ruler of a continental European duchy2: a nobleman of the highest hereditary rank ; especially : a member of the highest grade of the British peerage3 [probably from dukes of York, rhyming slang for fork (hand, fist)] slang : fist, hand —usually used in plural

— duke·dom \-dəm\ noun