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duke - What does it mean?

Definition of 'duke'

English

(wikipedia)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • The male ruler of a duchy (compare duchess ).
  • A high title of nobility; the male holder of a dukedom.
  • A grand duke.
  • (slang|usually in plural) A fist.
  • Put up your dukes !
    This is thought to be derived from where Duke(s) of York = Fork. Fork is itself cockney slang for hand, and thus fist.

    Hypernyms

    * nobility

    Coordinate terms

    (checksense) * prince, monarch, baron, count, countess, earl, marquess, marquis, viscount

    Derived terms

    * archduke * duke it out * dukedom (rel-mid) * grand duke * put up one's dukes (rel-bottom)

    Verb

    (duk)
  • To hit or beat with the fists.
  • * {{quote-book|2003|John A. Dinan|Private Eyes in the Comics|isbn=159393002X|pageurl=http://books.google.com/books?id=7vvAzXjtBAcC&pg=PA65|page=65
  • |passage=It seems that PI Rainer was duked by his wife

    Derived terms

    * duke it out * duke it * duke out (rel-mid) * duke up * duke in (rel-bottom) ----