From Middle English duȝethe, duhethe (“body of retainers, people, might, dignity, worth”), from Old English duguþ (“manhood, host, multitude, troops”), from Proto-Germanic *dugunþō, *dugunþiz (“power, competency, notefulness”), from *duganą (“to be useful”), from Proto-Indo-European *dheughe- (“to be ready, be sufficient”). Cognate with Old Frisian duged (“power”), Old High German tugad, tugund (“virtue”), German Tugend, Swedish dygd. Related to dow, doughty.
- manhood, virtue
- the age of manhood, maturity
- virility, manly power or strength; excellence
- (collectively) men, people
- a company, army, retinue
- (dialect) alternative past tense form of