Etymologists think this is probably how we got the word dukes used to refer to fists, as in "put up your dukes." Fork was slang for "hand" or "fist," and the phrase "dukes of York" was created as rhyming slang for "fork."

What's the meaning of the phrase 'Put up your dukes'? Put up your fists and prepare to fight. What's the origin of the phrase 'Put up your dukes'? The ‘dukes’ are the hands or fists.

"Put up your dukes" is an invitation to fight or spar. The abbreviation "P. R." stands for "Prize Ring," referring the ring where boxing matches occur. The earliest slang dictionary reference to dukes as "hands" that I've been able to confirm, however, is considerably older.

Put up your dukes! A challenge to fight. The “dukes” in question were fists, which the challenged party was asked to clench in preparation to trying to punch his opponent.

We will examine the definition of the phrase put up your dukes, where it most probably came from and some examples of its use in sentences. Put up your dukes is an admonition to get into a fighting stance and defend yourself.

2024年2月1日 · 00:00 • Introduction - Put Up Your Dukes: Uncover the Meaning Behind the Phrase00:35 • The Origin of "Put Up Your Dukes"01:12 • The Meaning and Usage01:48 • ...

2022年7月1日 · Etymologists think this is how we got the word dukes used to refer to fists, as in "put up your dukes." Instead of saying “put up your forks" people would say "put up your dukes of York!" Eventually, this was shortened to "put up your dukes." Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/put-up-your-dukes-meaning-origin

2015年8月22日 · The earliest verified reference to “duke” in the sense of hand, as in “put up your dukes” (after the American slang dictionary of 1859) is attributed to John Heenan’s, presumably American friends during his fight against Tom Sayers in April of 1860.

2021年12月7日 · Raspberry is rhyming slang for "fart" ("raspberry tart") and "Put up your dukes" is based on a complicated rhyming slang ("Forks" was slang for "Fingers" so "Put up your dukes" is rhyming slang for "Put up your Duke of York(s).).

Put up your dukes! A challenge to fight. The “dukes” in question were fists, which the challenged party was asked to clench in preparation to trying to punch his opponent.