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. dueller n. (US dueler). duellist n. (US duelist).
[ It. duello or L duellum (archaic form of bellum war), in med.L = single combat ]