duke

1 of 2

noun

ˈdük 

 also  ˈdyük

1

: a sovereign male ruler of a continental European duchy

2

: a nobleman of the highest hereditary rank

especially : a member of the highest grade of the British peerage

3

[probably from dukes of York, rhyming slang for fork (hand, fist)] slang : fist, hand

—usually used in plural

dukedom

ˈdük-dəm 

 also  ˈdyük-

noun

duke

2 of 2

verb

duked; duking

intransitive verb

: fight

Phrases

duke it out

: to engage in a fight and especially a fistfight

Examples of duke in a Sentence

Noun

Put up your dukes and fight, you coward!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The family remained at Royal Lodge until the duke and duchess were crowned four years later, following the abdication of Edward VIII. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025

Nearly every duke and earl and baron in England was competing to build great rare book collections, and lots and lots of fake manuscripts emerged. —JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025

Verb

Since no couple was cut during last week's Dedication Night, the 10 remaining couples duked it out, hoping to survive the elimination. —Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025

Gas stations As gas station fever grows with every regional chain duking it out to be the superior fuel center, Louisville welcomed a new chain to the area. —Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French duc, from Latin duc-, dux, from ducere to lead — more at tow entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1947, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing duke

• duke it out
• grand duke

Rhymes for duke

• fluke
• juke
• kook
• luc
• luke
• nuke
• puke
• souk
• spook
• archduke
• rebuke
• caoutchouc

Kids Definition

duke

noun

ˈd(y)ük

1

: a soveriegn ruler of a duchy

2

: a nobleman of the highest rank especially of the British nobility

3

slang : fist sense 1

—usually used in plural

Biographical Definition

Duke

biographical name

ˈdük 

ˈdyük

Benjamin Newton 1855–1929 and his brother James Buchanan 1856–1925 American tobacco industrialists