duchessdom

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   The condition or title of a duchess.

   • “No, no; purchase a dukedom.” “I don’t want a dukedom; I want a duchessdom.” “That’s all right. Buy the title, give it to the cook, and let her marry some spectre of her own rank; she can give him the title; and there you are!”
   • Believe me, if Nan had liked duchessdom, none of this would be taking place.
2. 2

   A region ruled by a duchess.

   • The buskers gathered expectantly at their table, and presently the two came in, he who had thought a kingdom well lost for love, and she who had gained a duchessdom by it.
   • Astride his trusty equine colleague, he went from kingdom to queendom and from dukedom to duchessdom, asking for names and phone numbers.
   • The children spent more time in their imaginary “kingdoms, empires, domains, dukedoms, and marquisdoms … and—oh yes! Duchessdoms,” and talked for hours about what to name their castles and realms.

The neighborhood

• neighborduchy
• neighbordukedom