duel

[doo-uhl, dyoo-]

noun

1. a prearranged combat between two persons, fought with deadly weapons according to an accepted code of procedure, especially to settle a private quarrel.

2. any contest between two persons or parties.

verb (used with or without object)

dueled, dueling , duelled, duelling .

1. to fight in a duel.

duel

/ ˈdjuːəl /

noun

1. a prearranged combat with deadly weapons between two people following a formal procedure in the presence of seconds and traditionally fought until one party was wounded or killed, usually to settle a quarrel involving a point of honour

2. a contest or conflict between two persons or parties

verb

1. to fight in a duel

2. to contest closely

Other Word Forms

• duelistic adjective
• outduel verb (used with object)
• dueller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of duel¹

1585–95; earlier duell < Medieval Latin duellum, Latin: earlier form of bellum war, probably maintained and given sense “duel” by association with Latin duo two

Word History and Origins

Origin of duel¹

C15: from Medieval Latin duellum, from Latin, poetical variant of bellum war; associated by folk etymology with Latin duo two

Example Sentences

For most of Monday night, a crowd of 45,653 in South Philadelphia sat anxiously in anticipation, waiting for the dam to break in an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Against Leeds, he contested 19 duels, winning 10 of them - more than any other player in the game.

Read more on BBC

He is first in the Premier League for duels won, first for possession won in the final third, second for sprints and top five for dribbles.

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In duelling press conferences on Capitol Hill on Thursday, neither party appeared willing to give ground.

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The Dodgers easily swept the best-of-three duel with the overmatched Reds on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium with a frolicking 8-4 victory … just in time to uneasily hike into the home of heated hardball.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bout 
• shootout