Where does “duke” come from?

duke (Middle English) comes from Old French duc, from Latin dux, from Latin dūcō, from Proto-Italic doukō, from Proto-Indo-European déwketi, from Proto-Indo-European dewk- — to pull, to draw; to lead.

duke (Middle English): leader, guide, commander, boss; noble, lord; duke

Definitions

  1. leader, guide, commander, boss; noble, lord; duke

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- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European déwketi →Every word from Proto-Italic doukō →