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 ]

n. The quality or condition of being a duke; also, the personality of a duke. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. pl. [ Russ. dukhobortsy spirit wrestlers; dukh spirit + bortsy wrestlers. ] A Russian religious sect founded about the middle of the 18th century at Kharkov. They believe that Christ was wholly human, but that his soul reappears from time to time in mortals. They accept the Ten Commandments and the “useful” portions of the Bible, but deny the need of rulers, priests, or churches, and have no confessions, icons, or marriage ceremonies. They are communistic, opposed to any violence, and unwilling to use the labor of animals. Driven out of Russia proper, many have emigrated to Cyprus and Canada. See Raskolnik, below. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]