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Duke

//dʒuːk// name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A male given name from English; mostly US and rather rare. countable
  2. 2
    A surname originating as an occupation for service in the household of a duke, or from a nickname. countable
  3. 3
    A male nickname. countable, informal, uncountable
  4. 4
    A male nickname.; The American actor John Wayne. countable, informal, uncountable, usually

    ""Whoa there, pardner," Kiril said in his best Duke impression, and grabbed hold of the armrest to keep from rolling into Fyodor's lap."

  5. 5
    Ellipsis of Duke University, a private university in Durham, North Carolina, USA. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, informal, uncountable
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  1. 6
    A place name:; An unincorporated community in Phelps County, Missouri, United States. countable, uncountable
  2. 7
    A place name:; A township in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. countable, uncountable
Noun
  1. 1
    The male ruler of a duchy (female equivalent: duchess).
  2. 2
    The title of a duke.

    "Percy’s military career began in France under Dukes Henry and John of Lancaster; […]"

  3. 3
    a British peer of the highest rank wordnet
  4. 4
    The sovereign of a small state.
  5. 5
    a nobleman (in various countries) of high rank wordnet
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  1. 6
    A high title of nobility; the male holder of a dukedom.
  2. 7
    A grand duke.
  3. 8
    Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genera Bassarona and Dophla.
  4. 9
    A fist. plural-normally, slang

    "Put up your dukes!"

Verb
  1. 1
    To hit or beat with the fists. informal, transitive

    "It seems that PI Rainer was duked by his wife […]."

  2. 2
    To give cash to; to give a tip to. slang, transitive

    "I duked him twenty dollars."

  3. 3
    To perform the duties of, or rule over as, a duke.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Old French duc, through Middle English duk, duke, from Latin dux, ducis. Displaced native Old English heretoga. Was present as duc in late Old English, from the same Latin source. Doublet of doge, duc, duce, and dux. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dewk-, which is also the source of the second component in German Herzog. The “fist” sense is thought to be Cockney rhyming slang where “Duke(s) of York” = fork. Fork is itself Cockney slang for hand, and thus fist.

Etymology 2

From Old French duc, through Middle English duk, duke, from Latin dux, ducis. Displaced native Old English heretoga. Was present as duc in late Old English, from the same Latin source. Doublet of doge, duc, duce, and dux. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dewk-, which is also the source of the second component in German Herzog. The “fist” sense is thought to be Cockney rhyming slang where “Duke(s) of York” = fork. Fork is itself Cockney slang for hand, and thus fist.

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