duke Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a British peer of the highest rank
  2. noun a nobleman (in various countries) of high rank

WordNet

Duke noun
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  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. 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. In some European countries, a sovereign prince, without the title of king.
Duke intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To play the duke. Poetic
    Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence. Shak.

Webster 1913