Where does “duke” come from?

Duke comes from Middle English duc, from Old French duc, from Latin dux meaning leader or commander, derived from Latin duco meaning to lead, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dewk-.

duke (English): The male ruler of a duchy; The sovereign of a...

Definitions

  1. The male ruler of a duchy; The sovereign of a...

Ancestry of “duke”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchducduke
2Latinduxleader, head; commander, general, captain;...
3Latindūcōto lead, guide, conduct, lead away
4Proto-Italicdoukōlead
5Proto-Indo-Europeandéwketi—
6Proto-Indo-Europeandewk-to pull, to draw; to lead

Words derived from “duke”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dewk- →