duchy

Everyday

1. A duchy is an area of land ruled by a duke or a duchess. tree →
2. (UK) The Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster are special estates of land owned by the British royal family. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons it appears with kings, dukes and medieval Europe: many countries were once split into duchies, like the Duchy of Normandy. Luxembourg is still a Grand Duchy today. It tells the reader a land ruled by a duke. Related: duke, duchess, kingdom, principality.

Examples

• William was the Duke of Normandy and ruled the duchy. tree →
• Luxembourg is a Grand Duchy. tree →
• The prince gets money from the Duchy of Cornwall. tree →
• The duchy was smaller than a kingdom. tree →
• Germany was once made of many duchies and kingdoms. tree →
• The duke protected the people of his duchy. tree →
• Duchy Originals sells biscuits from royal land. tree →
• If only I had a duchy!’ tree →

Note

Countable: plural duchies (y → ies). Pronounced «DUTCH-ee». Related: duke (man), duchess (woman or a duke's wife). A duchy is smaller than a kingdom; a county was ruled by a count or earl. Not to be confused with «Dutch».