duke

Meanings

Noun

• The male ruler of a duchy (female equivalent: duchess).
• The sovereign of a small state.
• A high title of nobility; the male holder of a dukedom.
• A grand duke.
• Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genera Bassarona (genus) and Dophla (genus).
• A fist.

Verb

• To hit or beat with the fists.
• To give cash to; to give a tip to.

Origin

• From Old French duc, through Middle English duk, duke, from Latin dux. Displaced native Old English heretoga. Was present as duc in late Old English, from the same Latin source. dux, and doge.
• 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.