The spelling of the phrase "puts dukes" can be explained using IPA transcription. The first word, "puts," is pronounced as /pʊts/, with the "u" pronounced as "uh" and the "s" sounding like "ss". The second word, "dukes," is pronounced as /djuːks/, with the "u" sounding like "oo" and "k" and "s" making "ks" sound. "Putting up one's dukes" is a phrase that refers to being ready for a physical fight by getting into a defensive position, with fists clenched in front of one's face.
There is no standard or widely recognized definition for the phrase "puts dukes." It appears to be a non-standard or colloquial expression that may not have a specific meaning. However, by examining the individual words, one can offer a potential interpretation.
The word "puts" can be a verb that refers to the act of placing or setting something in a specific location. It can also indicate the act of investing money into something. "Dukes" is a plural noun that typically refers to the highest-ranking hereditary title in the British nobility, often given to a male member of the royal family. In a broader sense, "dukes" can colloquially refer to one's fists or hands.
Combining these definitions, one could speculate that "puts dukes" might be an expression suggesting the act of physically placing or positioning one's fists in a confrontational or aggressive manner, as if preparing for a fight or asserting dominance. However, it is important to note that this interpretation is speculative and based on combining individual word meanings rather than an established definition of the phrase. Without further context or usage examples, it is challenging to provide a definitive meaning.
The phrase "puts up your dukes" is an idiomatic expression used to encourage someone to get ready for a fight by raising their fists. The word "dukes" in this phrase refers to one's fists or hands.
The etymology of this phrase is uncertain, but it is commonly believed to have originated in the late 18th or early 19th century in Cockney rhyming slang, a form of English slang that replaces a word with a rhyming phrase. In this case, "dukes" is believed to be a shortened form of the phrase "Duke of York", which rhymes with "fork". "Fork" was a slang term for hand, and the phrase "puts up your Dukes of York" was used to mean "puts up your forks" or "puts up your fists".