• (RP) IPA: /ˈdjuːti/
• (GA) IPA: /duːti/

duty

1. That which one is morally or legally obligated to do.

   We don't have a duty to keep you here.

   • 1805, 21 October, Horatio_Nelson,_1st_Viscount_Nelson

     England expects that every man will do his duty.

   • 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, OCLC 639762314 ↗, page 0105 ↗:

     Captain Edward Carlisle […] felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, […]; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard.

2. The state of being at work and responsible for or doing a particular task.

   I’m on duty from 6 pm to 6 am.

3. A tax placed on imports or exports; a tariff.

   customs duty; excise duty

4. (obsolete) One's due, something one is owed; a debt or fee.
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Gospel of Matthew XX:

     Take that which is thy duty, and goo thy waye.

5. (obsolete) Respect; reverence; regard; act of respect; homage.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act V, scene ii]:

     my duty to you

6. The efficiency of an engine, especially a steam pumping engine, as measured by work done by a certain quantity of fuel; usually, the number of pounds of water lifted one foot by one bushel of coal (94 lbs. old standard), or by 1 cwt. (112 lbs., England, or 100 lbs., United States).

• (that which one is obligated to do) obligation

• duty-free (taxes)
• (that which one is obligated to do) right

• due

• French: devoir, obligation, service
• German: Pflicht
• Italian: dovere, obbligo
• Portuguese: dever, obrigação
• Russian: долг
• Spanish: deber, obligación, cometido, menester

• French: travail
• German: Schicht, Arbeitszeit
• Italian: servizio, attività
• Portuguese: plantão
• Russian: дежу́рство

• French: taxe
• German: Zoll, Einfuhrsteuer
• Italian: tassa, dazio, gabella, tributo, imposta, balzello
• Portuguese: imposto, taxa
• Russian: по́шлина
• Spanish: arancel

1. Surname