[du.el] n [ME, fr. ML duellum, fr. OL, war] (15c) 1: a combat between two persons; specif: a formal combat with weapons fought between two persons in the presence of witnesses
2: a conflict between antagonistic persons, ideas, or forces; also: a hard-fought contest between two opponents
[2]duel vb du.eled or du.elled ; du.el.ing or du.el.ling vi (ca. 1645): to fight a duel ~ vt: to encounter (an opponent) in a duel -- du.el.er or du.el.ler n -- du.el.ist or du.el.list n