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

One of these players applied light pressure on Alisson while their other player duelled with Virgil van Dijk, impairing his movement.

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This was an evening when Newcastle won more tackles and aerial duels, and made more blocks than the visitors.

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At the start of Jigsaw Falling Into Place, Yorke and Greenwood face each other and play duelling guitars.

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She begins with an account of Hamilton’s death and funeral but declines to describe the 1804 duel in which Burr alone may have shot to kill.

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The boys practiced challenging each other to a duel, which they felt certain would impress the tsar, should they meet him, while Veronika energetically practiced every dance step she had ever learned.

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Related Words

• bout 
• shootout