duke

/duk/

/duk/

Other forms: dukes

A duke is a member of a royal or noble group. In some places, dukes rule over certain regions, while in others duke is just an honorary title.

In the U.K., a duke inherits his title from his parents. Prince William, for example, is the Duke of Cambridge, while his father Prince Charles is the Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay. The equivalent title for a woman is duchess. Informally, duke has a very different meaning in the U.S. — if you "duke it out," you have a fight, and to "put up your dukes" means to clench your fists and get ready to punch.

Definitions of duke

1. noun

   a British peer of the highest rank
   examples:

   Duke of Lancaster

   the fourth son of Edward III who was the effective ruler of England during the close of his father's reign and during the minority of Richard II; his son was Henry Bolingbroke (1340-1399)

   type of:

   peer

   a nobleman (duke or marquis or earl or viscount or baron) who is a member of the British peerage
2. noun

   a nobleman (in various countries) of high rank
   type of:

   Lord, noble, nobleman

   a titled peer of the realm