duke

Noun

1. The male ruler of a duchy (female equivalent: duchess).
2. The sovereign of a small state.
3. A high title of nobility; the male holder of a dukedom.
4. A grand duke.
5. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genera Bassarona and Dophla.
6. (plural-normally, slang) A fist.

Verb

1. (informal, transitive) To hit or beat with the fists.
2. (slang, transitive) To give cash to; to give a tip to.
3. To perform the duties of, or rule over as, a duke.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/djuːk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: duk

Cognate with Old English: heretoga

In summary

From Old French duc, through Middle English duk, duke, from Latin dux, ducis. Displaced native Old English heretoga. Was present as duc in late Old English, from the same Latin source. Doublet of doge, duc, duce, and dux.
The “fist” sense is thought to be Cockney rhyming slang where “Duke(s) of York” = fork. Fork is itself Cockney slang for hand, and thus fist.

Synonyms

prince

🤴

aristocrat

dike

nobleman

peer

Translations

duc

duque

duca

duque

Herzog

hertog

duc

książę

δούκας

dux

dük

دوق

duchessa

Fürst

🤴

dux ducis