Hypertext Webster Gateway: "duel"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Duel \Du"el\, n. [It. duello, fr. L. duellum, orig., a contest
between two, which passed into the common form bellum war,
fr. duo two: cf. F. duel. See {Bellicose}, {Two}, and cf.
{Duello}.]
A combat between two persons, fought with deadly weapons, by
agreement. It usually arises from an injury done or an
affront given by one to the other.
{Trial by duel} (Old Law), a combat between two persons for
proving a cause; trial by battel.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Duel \Du"el\, v. i. & t.
To fight in single combat. [Obs.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
duel
n 1: a prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people
(accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel
over a point of honor [syn: {affaire d'honneur}]
2: any struggle between two skillful opponents (individuals or
groups)
v : fight a duel, as over one's honor or a woman; "In the 19th
century, men often dueled over small matters"
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