duke
duke Lexical Profile
duke Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A male holding the highest hereditary title in the British and certain other European peerages, ranking immediately below a monarch or prince.
"The duke inherited a vast country estate along with his ancestral title."
A sovereign prince who rules over an independent duchy in certain historical European states.
"During the Renaissance, the duke governed the city-state as an independent ruler."
A person's hand or fist, especially when raised ready for fighting (usually used in the plural).
"The old boxer told the kid to put up his dukes and learn how to defend himself."
• verb
North American To fight with the fists or engage in a heated contest or struggle (almost always used in the phrase 'duke it out').
"The two championship contenders will duke it out in the final round tonight."
• Rhymes for duke
Word Origin & Etymology
Middle English, from Old French duc, from Latin dux ('leader'), derived from the verb ducere ('to lead'). The slang sense meaning 'fist' likely arose from Cockney rhyming slang 'Duke of Yorks' for 'forks' (fingers or hands).