n. & v.
--n.
1. hist. a contest with deadly weapons between two people, in the presence of two seconds, to settle a point of honour.
2 any contest between two people, parties, causes, animals, etc. (a duel of wits).
--v.intr. (duelled, duelling; US dueled, dueling) fight a duel or duels.
Derivatives:
dueller n. (US dueler). duellist n. (US duelist).
Etymology: It. duello or L duellum (archaic form of bellum war), in med.L single combat