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Entry 6 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Duke

/(dūk)/ · IPA /dʒuːk/
01 n. A leader; a chief; a prince.
  1. 1.
    A leader; a chief; a prince.[Obs.]
    “Hannibal, duke of Carthage.” — Sir T. Elyot.
    “All were dukes once, who were “duces” -- captains or leaders of their people.” — Trench.
  2. 2.
    In England, one of the highest order of nobility after princes and princesses of the royal blood and the four archbishops of England and Ireland.
  3. 3.
    In some European countries, a sovereign prince, without the title of king.
  4. 4.
    The fists; as, put up your dukes.[slang]
Phrases & compounds
Duke's coronet — See Illust. of Coronet.
To dine with Duke Humphrey — to go without dinner. See under Dine.
02 v. i. To play the duke.
  1. 1.
    To play the duke.[Poetic]
    “Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence.” — Shak.
03 v. t. To beat with the fists.
  1. 1.
    To beat with the fists.[slang]
Phrases & compounds
to duke it out — to fight; -- usually implying, to fight with the fists; to settle a dispute by fighting with the fists. See duke, n. sense 4.