duke

n. [ F. duc, fr. L. dux, ducis, leader, commander, fr. ducere to lead; akin to AS. teón to draw; cf. AS. heretoga (here army) an army leader, general, G. herzog duke. See Tue, and cf. Doge, Duchess, Ducat, Duct, Adduce, Deduct. ] 1. A leader; a chief; a prince. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Hannibal, duke of Carthage. Sir T. Elyot. [ 1913 Webster ]

All were dukes once, who were “duces” -- captains or leaders of their people. Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In some European countries, a sovereign prince, without the title of king. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. pl. The fists; as, put up your dukes. [ slang ] [ PJC ]

Duke's coronet. See Illust. of Coronet. --
To dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without dinner. See under Dine. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>v. i. To play the duke. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>v. t. To beat with the fists. [ slang ] [ PJC ]

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. [ PJC ]

n. 1. The territory of a duke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The title or dignity of a duke. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A little or insignificant duke. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]