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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Duke, Duik, n.¹ Also: duc (duce), duck(e, duk; dwke, dwike, duike, duyc, duyk; dewk, deuk, diuk; dowk, dou(c)k, douik, dook(e. [ME. duke, douke, ducke, duk, early ME. and late OE. duc, OF. duc.]

1. The title of a feudal noble ranking next to a prince or king. Const. of the territory held by him.(a) 1398 Acts I. 210/2.
With the consail of wyse men & lele … In the firste the Duc of Albany Ib.
It is … maste expedient that the duc of Rothesay be the kyngis lieutenande 1402 Dundee Chart. No. 22.
Robert Duc of Albanye, … Chambirlayn of Scotland 1417 Acts I. 227/1.
Robert Duyc of Albany, … to the schirefis of Aberden … gretyng 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 49.
For the convocacione of the Kingis liegis again the incummyn of the Duc of Glosister at the West Marche 1497 Acta Conc. II. 87.
At the instance of our derrest bruder, James … Duc of Ros, Postulat of Sanctandros 1516 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 22.
The Duc of Albanye(b) (1417) Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 37.
Robert ducke of Albian … gouernoure of Scotlande 1535 Stewart 40573.
Emma his latter wyfe … Ducke Richardis dochter wes of Normondy 1558-66 Knox II. 133.
The Duck of Gwyse, the Cardinall of Lorane, and thair factioun 1569-73 Bann. Memor. i.
The conspiracie of the duck of Northfolk with the papistes 1592 Acts III. 589/2.
His hienes darrest cousing, Ludouick duck of Lennox 1632 Sutherland Corr. 158.
The Duck of Saxone, quha hes prowene vngraith to his countrie 1662 Cromarty Corr. I. 7.
Yow most wait vpoun the Dvck of Yorck, and present him with this letter 1684 Bk. Old Edinb. C. IX. 166.
Late secritare to the Duck of Lauderdaill(c) 1456 Hay I. 193/8.
Put the cas that the Duk of Savoye haldis landis of the King of France 1471 Acts II. 99/1.
Because of the tendir alyans that is be twix the king of France … and the duk of Burgunȝe 1496 Acta Conc. II. 5.
That the saidis landis pertenit to Georg, Erle of Huntlye, … be ressone of the forefature of umquhile Alexander, Duk of Albany 1522 Maxwell Mem. 250.
Johnne Duk of Albanye, tuetour to our souueraine lord and guuernour of his realme 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 21.
His grace purposit to saile in France, to haue vesyit the duk of Wandones dochter 1596 Dalr. II. 113/4.
Our king … calis him ay duk of Ȝork(d) 1482 Edinb. Chart. 147.
Gevin in the presens of the richt michti prince Richard duke of Glocister, Alexander duke of Albany [etc.] 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 91.
On Lammes da, to the Dwke of Ros, xviij s. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 269/8.
James the first … brocht with him Janot, the Duke of Somersydis dochter, his spous 1540 Treas. Acc. VII. 289.
Ane pece of unwrocht gold of the mynde, quhilk wes send to the Duke of Guys in France 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 27.
James Betoun, vncle to the Duke of Chestellaraultis moder(e) 1544 Acts II. 450/1.
The duik of Northok waistand this realm with swerd and fyre 1558 Maitland Maitl. F. xvii. 5.
Be thy levetennent … The duik of Gweis recouerit Calice toun 1570 Leslie 42.
Thair was ane ambassadour sent be the Duik of Burgunye in Scotland a1578 Pitsc. I. 68/31.
The Inglischemen … mairiet this ȝoung King Henrie the Sext wpon the Dwike of Loranis doughter 1581 Treas. Acc. 78² b.
Drink siluer to my lord duicke of Levinox seruitour 1598 Rep. Milne Home MSS. 70.
His Majestie … raid to Sorne to the Duik of Lennox brydall 1603 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 44.
Geneua … hes falȝiit to be takin be the duik of Sauoy 1633 Acts V. 59/2.
His Majesties said dearest cowsigne … James Duike of Lennox(f) 1596 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 9.
The Devk of Venice 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 343.
Uper Dalweine within the Dewk of Queinsberies bounds(g) a1578 Pitsc. I. 131/1.
The Douik of Ȝork thinkand that he had better occatioun to recouer the croune

b. With the designation omitted, usually with the (also my lord Duke).(a) 1408 Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 221.
We consent nocht to bynde na sic cause to nane enquest to be ressaivit befor the Duc 1409 Exch. R. IV. p. ccxii.
The seelis of the saide lorde the Duc and of the said Erle 1497 Halyb. 153.
My Lord the Duce Ib.
For fynans that the abbot … of Coper was award my Lord Duc(b) 1413 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 643.
Till vpp gyff tha landis … till our Lord the Ducke our Gouernour 1558-66 Knox II. 48.
Be the advyse of the said Duck, Nobilitie, and Estaites of Scotland 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 262.
The said duckis sone suld have gone to France, as is thought 1615 Sutherland Corr. 113.
George Muirhead, servitour to the ducke 1628 Fam. Innes 216.
The Duckis phesycian is killit be the printisses of Londoun(c) 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 157.
A verdour bed to the Duk c 1594 Lennox Mun. 338.
Resonis to my Lord Duk 1628 Fam. Innes 216.
The Duk is in ane fear(d) 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 156.
Cayrsay to be … schort hoyse to the Dwke Ib.
Small braide clayth to be scheytis to the Duke 1564 Reg. Morton I. ii.
To my Lord Dwkis grace 1558-66 Knox II. 330.
The Duke his Grace should render to the Quene the castell of Dumbartane 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 26.
Seing that the Duke, as a prince bayth wyis and vertuous [etc.] 1684 Cromarty Corr. I. 42.
The Kinge and Dwke ar extremly pleased with the accounts you have giuen(e) 1515 Douglas Corr. 71.
To send the ilk Duyk agayne hys oblysyng 1543 Reg. Morton I. 5.
Ane appointment betuix the Duik and my Lord of Mortoun for deliverie of the hous of Dalkeith 1570 Bann. Memor. App. 362.
The duikes freindis intromettit … with the baronie of Glasfuird Ib. 363.
The duik, … and the rest of the Hammiltounis 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 230.
The waist grund at the eist end of the duikis lugeing 1619 Thanes of Cawdor 251.
Thair came letteris … from the Duik my Lord Sanquhar(f) 1596 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 10.
The Dewk begovd and said [etc.] Ib. 15. 1679 Stirling Comm. Good MS. 32.
To the man that brought hom the deuks burges ticket(g) 1583 Lennox Mun. 454.
His gentillman servand, … to ly nichtlie in the Dowkis chalmer 1626 Garden Worthies 65.
For glorious deeds surnam'd the doughtie Dook [: took] 1634 Maxwell Mem. 254.
I have not yet sent you the tak from my Lord Douk 1644 11th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. vi. 56.
I leiue my soune my Lord Douck … my air

c. Placed before a personal name.Also applied to personages of ancient history or romance. (Cf. 3.) 1375 Barb. iii. 77.
Duk Betys tuk on him the flycht a1500 Bk. Chess 897.
Quhen duk Garybald … Had slane … his king, And maid duk Grymbald crovnit for to ryng 1549 Compl. 44/35.
The prudent duc Pericles, quha hed the gouuerning of the comont veil of Athenes 1567 Sat. P. iii. 166.
Creusa brycht, The worthy wyfe of dowchtie Duik Jason 1602 Treas. Acc. 150.
Ane kist of aikin tymber to lay duik Robert in eftir his death 1603 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 46.
Ȝour maiesties nobill issue and sone Duc Charles

2. A nobleman holding the rank and title of duke.The form duke in some of the earlier quotations is prob. not original, the text being from late copies. c1400 Troy-bk. i. 238.
Dukis of gret possessions, And Erlis, that war mekle of mycht ?1438 Alex. ii. 1466.
Quhair the gude is erle or knicht, Duke or admerall or king of micht 1456 Hay I. 293/15.
As knychthede may be in all kingis and Emperouris, dukkis and erllis a1500 Henr. Bludy Serk 3.
Dukis, erlis, and barronis bald He had at his bidding 1490 Irland Mir. I. 10/6.
In the gret nobilite of Troy, … and mony vthir walȝeand king and duc and knycht Ib. 103/5.
Sche discendit of mony nobile patriarkis, kingis and dukis 1524 Douglas Corr. 87.
Nouther Duc nor uther man levand … sall have powar therof 1560 Rolland Seven S. 625.
With him come diuers grit kings & knichts, Duiks, barrouns, erls, & mony worthie wichts 1596 Dalr. II. 322/25.
Certane French dukes … with the help of the Scotis remanet in Dunbar 1660 Douglas Chart. 341.
Since and efter the inbringing of the titles of duckes and marquesses

3. A ruler or leader; a commander of an army. c1420 Wynt. ii. 1064.
In to this tyme … Was Josue duk in Israel Ib. iii. 517.
Thai maid hym thare duk and ledare 1456 Hay I. 112/8.
The duk of the bataill that is callit the ledare of the bataill a1500 Bk. Chess 1075.
Tanvlphus, a worthy Romane duke 1513 Doug. ix. i. 68.
Turnus thar duke rewlys the myddill ost 1533 Bell. Livy I. 3/20.
Vailȝeand campiouns & dukis militare Ib. II. 150/36.
To … rais sic seditione that the knichtis sall nocht obey to thair dukis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3315.
Arbates, ane duke of Mede c1590 Fowler I. 27/33.
Amidst thereoff I spyed a duck [It. duce], Victorious, high of might