# duke

/ˈduk/ (US) · /djˈuːk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/duke
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. nobleman

noun · CEFR B2

a man of very high social rank, just below a prince.

For teachers: the highest rank of the peerage in several European countries, often holding a title associated with a specific territory or duchy.

- The Duke of Wellington led the army to victory at the battle.
- The Duke inherited a vast estate in the countryside, along with several historic titles that had been in his family for centuries.

### 2. fists

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

your hands when they are closed tightly, usually used when talking about fighting.

For teachers: a person's fists; almost exclusively used in the plural form within the idiom 'put up your dukes'.

- The two men put up their dukes and prepared to fight in the street.
- He told the bully to put up his dukes, though it was clear he had never actually been in a physical confrontation before.

Usage: Usually plural ('dukes').

Teaching tip: This sense is mostly found in older movies or books; modern speakers use it for a humorous or old-fashioned effect.

### 3. to fight

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

to fight with your fists, especially in the phrase 'duke it out'.

For teachers: to engage in a physical or verbal fight; typically used in the phrasal verb 'duke it out'.

- The two politicians decided to duke it out during the live television debate.
- Rather than taking the matter to court, the two companies decided to duke it out in the marketplace through aggressive advertising campaigns.

Usage: Commonly used as 'duke it out'.

## Examples

- The Duke lives in a large castle in the countryside.
- After the ceremony, the Duke addressed the crowd to thank them for their support of the local charity.
- Historical records indicate that the Duke wielded significant political influence within the royal court, often acting as a primary advisor to the king during times of diplomatic crisis.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.