the.com/duchess
a woman who outranks you so politely you'll thank her for it.
means A woman who holds the rank of duke, either by inheriting the title herself or by marriage to a duke — the highest noble rank below royalty.
from From Old French 'duchesse,' the feminine of 'duc' (duke), which traces back to Latin 'dux,' meaning 'leader' or 'commander' — from 'ducere,' 'to lead.' So buried inside all that lace and protocol is a battlefield word: the duke was originally the one who led the troops. The duchess inherited the rank along with, presumably, the talent for command.
- rank
- Just below princess, above everyone else's opinions
- origin
- From Latin dux, meaning military leader
- suo jure
- Some hold the title in their own right
- slang
- Cockney rhyming slang for one's mother
- the only one
- England has just one non-royal duchess regnant
duchess of cornwall — camilla, wife of king charles iii, british royal title held since 2005
duchess of sussex — meghan markle, wife of prince harry, british royal title held since 2018
duchess of cambridge — catherine, princess of wales, held title 2011-2022 before becoming princess