duke

plural dukes

1. The male ruler of a duchy (female equivalent: duchess).
2. The sovereign of a small state.
3. A high title of nobility; the male holder of a dukedom.
4. A grand duke.
5. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genera Bassarona and Dophla.
6. plural normallyslangA fist.

   Put up your dukes!

   2 more examples

   “Your friend sure knows how to use his dukes. Biff, bang! One, two, and the copʼs on his ass!”

   1952, Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man, Penguin Books (2014), page 438

   "How did the sport go." "O sparred a few rounds. Let the instructor have a few on the button." "You must be tough." "I can handle my dukes."

   1963, J P Donleavy, A Singular Man, published 1963 (USA), page 19

present singular third person dukes · participle present duking · participle past duked · past duked

1. informaltransitiveTo hit or beat with the fists.

   It seems that PI Rainer was duked by his wife […].

   2003, John A. Dinan, Private Eyes in the Comics, →ISBN, page 65

2. slangtransitiveTo give cash to; to give a tip to.

   I duked him twenty dollars.

   Synonyms: tip

3. To perform the duties of, or rule over as, a duke.

plural Dukes

1. The title of a duke.

   Percy’s military career began in France under Dukes Henry and John of Lancaster; […]

   2001, John Cannon, editor, A Dictionary of British History, Oxford University Press, published 2004, →ISBN

plural Dukes

1. countableA male given name from English; mostly US and rather rare.
2. countableA surname originating as an occupation for service in the household of a duke, or from a nickname.
3. countableinformaluncountableA male nickname.
   1. countableinformaluncountableusuallyThe American actor John Wayne.

      "Whoa there, pardner," Kiril said in his best Duke impression, and grabbed hold of the armrest to keep from rolling into Fyodor's lap.

      2000, Dana Stabenow, Midnight Come Again, →ISBN, page 4

4. abbreviationcountableellipsisinformaluncountableEllipsis of Duke University, a private university in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
5. A place name:
   1. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Phelps County, Missouri, United States.
   2. countableuncountableA township in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States.