From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishduchessduch‧ess /ˈdʌtʃɪs/ noun [countable] PGOa woman with the highest social rank outside the royal family, or the wife of a duke the Duchess of York
Examples from the Corpus
duchess• I say you will live one day like a duchess, because this is what you deserve.• King Charles, not to be outdone, then made the abandoned wife a duchess, the title to die with her.• Remember, I can make you a duchess one day.• Anne Mowbray was bride, duchess, virgin, the richest heiress in the land.• Or, as the Palace will no doubt be recommending to the duchess in due course ... take a running jump.• Her heart was touched by what the duchess had offered her and by what had been asked of herself in return.• The duchess was charming, gracious, intelligent.Origin duchess (1300-1400) Old French duchesse, from duc; → DUKE 