See Also: infibulation(dictionary)
duke(encyclopedia)
duke(1)(dictionary)
duke(2)(dictionary)
DUKE(law)
Duke(medicine)
duke(dictionary)
Ellington, Duke(dictionary)
duke (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
Ellington, Duke(encyclopedia)

duke(1) (iou) and infibulation (iou)


duke(1) (iou)



duke noun. [dju:k] Also (esp. in titles) Duke. OE.
[Old & mod. French duc from Latin DUX, duc- leader, rel. to ducere to lead.]
In some European countries: a sovereign prince, the ruler of a duchy. OE.
b. = DOGE. M16-E19.
a. A leader; a captain, a General; a chief, a ruler. ME-L16.
b. Roman History. [Latin DUX.] A provincial military commander under the later emperors. M17.
In Britain and some Other countries: a male holding the highest hereditary title of nobility (ranking next below a prince). LME.
More fully duke cherry. A hybrid between the sweet cherry, Prunus avium, and sour cherry, P. cerasus; the fruit of such a tree. M17.
[from Duke of Yorks below.] A hand, a fist, a finger. Usu. in pl. slang. L19.
J. Mitford Always ready with dukes up to go to the offensive.
b. The verdict in a boxing-match (from the practice of raising the victor's arm). slang. M20.
D. Runyon Ledoux gets the duke by unanimous vote of the officials.
Phrases: dine with Duke Humphrey: see DINE verb 1. duke cherry: see sense 4 above. Duke of Argyll's tea plant: see tea plant s.v. TEA noun. Duke of Argyll's tea-tree: see TEA-TREE 3. Duke of Burgundy (fritillary) a small European butterfly, Hamearis lucina (family Riodinidae or Nemeobiidae), which resembles a fritillary and has dark brown wings with rows of orange markings. Duke of Exeter's DAUGHTER. Duke of Yorks rhyming slang 'forks', i.e. fingers, hands, fists. Iron Duke: see IRON noun & adjective. grand duke: see GRAND adjective1. royal duke a duke who is also a royal prince.
dukeling noun (a) a petty duke; (b) arch. a duke's child: E17.
dukely adjective (rare) belonging to or befitting a duke L16.
dukeship noun the office of a duke; (a humorous title for) a duke: M16.

infibulation (iou)



infibulation noun. M17.
[from INFIBULATE + -ATION.]
The action of fastening something, esp. the sexual organs with a clasp. Now spec. the partial stitching together of the labia, freq. after excision of the clitoris, to prevent copulation.