A duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy or of a member of royalty or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, and grand dukes. In the United Kingdom and Spain, all dukes are/were also peers of the realm. In France, some were and some were not, while the term is not applicable to dukedoms of other nations, even where an institution similar to the peerage existed. A woman who holds in her own right the title to such duchy or dukedom, or is married to a duke, is normally styled duchess. A duchy is the territory or geopolitical entity ruled by a duke, whereas his title or area is often called a dukedom. The inherited position of a duke along with its dignities, privileges, and rights is a dukedom in the United Kingdom. Dukes in the United Kingdom are addressed as "Your Grace" and referred to as "His Grace"
. Duke can also refer to Duke University, a private research university in Durham, North Carolina, which was created in 1924 by James Buchanan Duke as a memorial to his father, Washington Duke. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs and is known for its strong athletic programs, particularly in basketball. Duke University also includes the Duke University Health System, the Duke University School of Medicine, and the Duke University School of Nursing
. Additionally, "duke it out" is an informal expression meaning to fight or do battle, especially with the fists
