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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |