duel
[doo-uh l, dyoo-]
- a prearranged combat between two persons, fought with deadly weapons according to an accepted code of procedure, especially to settle a private quarrel.
- any contest between two persons or parties.
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- to fight in a duel.
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Origin of duel
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for duel
Contemporary Examples
It was a duel on a larger scale, with all the uncertainty and danger that implied.
That, then, makes this, for the third year running, duel between Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Amy Poehler.
Drake has been following the case on behalf of Fahmy, who is duel Canadian-Egyptian national.
It was less of a duel and more of a WWE-styled battle royale.
The protagonists Bernier and Gautier have a duel that again occupies an adrenaline-defying amount of time.
The ‘GOT’ Red Viper and Mountain Duel, and a History of Medieval Trial by CombatSteven Isaac
June 3, 2014
Historical Examples
We not only have no right to endanger another's life by a duel, but we have no right to endanger our own.
An Explanation of Luther's Small CatechismJoseph Stump
It was simply a question of days, this duel as to which should go off first.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
I remember that during the night preceding the duel I did not sleep a single moment.
A Hero of Our TimeM. Y. Lermontov
The ledge was covered with fine sand, as if on purpose for a duel.
A Hero of Our TimeM. Y. Lermontov
Meanwhile the duel between the Gneisenau and Inflexible had been going on.
duel
- 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
- a contest or conflict between two persons or parties
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- to fight in a duel
- to contest closely
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Word Origin
C15: from Medieval Latin duellum, from Latin, poetical variant of bellum war; associated by folk etymology with Latin duo two
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for duel
n.
1590s (from late 13c. in Latin form), from Medieval Latin duellum "combat between two persons," by association with Latin duo "two," but originally from Latin duellum "war," an Old Latin form of bellum (see bellicose). Retained in poetic and archaic language and apparently given a special meaning in Medieval or Late Latin of "one-on-one combat" on fancied connection with duo "two."
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v.
1640s, see duel (n.). Related: Dueled; dueling; duelling.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper