I. ˈdük also ˈdyük 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 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
• duke·dom -dəm noun
II. intransitive verb
( duked ; duk·ing )
Date: circa 1947
: fight
•
- duke it out