duke

DOOK/duk/DYOOK/djuːk/

8 meanings of duke

1
noble titlenouncountable
A very high rank among nobles, or the man who has that rank.
The king made his younger brother a duke.
Only a few families in the country hold the title of duke.
UsageSay the Duke of York. A duke's wife is a duchess.
2
nouncountable
A man who rules a small country or region called a duchy.
The duke ruled the land from his castle on the hill.
The duke ruled his own small state, and no king stood above him.
3
grand princenouncountable
A grand duke, called just duke for short.
4
punchverbcolloquialtransitive
To hit someone with your fists.
The two brothers decided to duke it out in the backyard.
The players duked it out after the whistle blew.
UsageUsually duke it out: fight with fists.
Similarpunch, hit, beat, slug, sock
Note

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From the Latin word dux, through French. The “fist” meaning is thought to come from Cockney rhyming slang.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts