■ noun
1》 a male holding the highest hereditary title in the British and certain other peerages.
2》 chiefly historical (in parts of Europe) a male ruler of a small independent state.
3》 ( ~s ) informal the fists.
Phrases
~ it out N. Amer. informal fight it out.
Derivatives
~dom noun
Origin
OE, from OFr. duc , from L. dux , duc- 'leader', related to ducere 'to lead'; sense 3 is from rhyming sl. Duke of Yorks 'forks' (= fingers).