duke: Meaning and Definition of

duke

Pronunciation: (dk, dyk), [key]
— n., v., duked, duk•ing.
—n.
  1. (in Continental Europe) the male ruler of a duchy; the sovereign of a small state.
  2. a British nobleman holding the highest hereditary title outside the royal family, ranking immediately below a prince and above a marquis; a member of the highest rank of the British peerage. Cf. royal duke.
  3. a nobleman of corresponding rank in certain other countries.
  4. a cultivated hybrid of the sweet and sour cherry.
  5. fists; hands: Put up your dukes.
—v.t.
  1. to hit or thrash with the fists (sometimes fol. by out): He duked me because he said I had insulted him. The bully said he was going to duke out anyone who disagreed.
  2. to fight, esp. with the fists; do battle: The adversaries were prepared to duke it out in the alley.

Duke

Pronunciation: (dk, dyk), [key]
— n.
  1. 1855–1929, and his brother,1856–1925, U.S. industrialists.
  2. a male given name.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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