a prearranged combat with deadly weapons between two people following a formal procedure in the presence of seconds and traditionally fought until one party was wounded or killed, usually to settle a quarrel involving a point of honour
2.
a contest or conflict between two persons or parties
verbWord forms: duels, duelling, duelledWord forms: USduels, dueling or dueled(intransitive)
3.
to fight in a duel
4.
to contest closely
Derived forms
dueller (ˈdueller) or US dueler (ˈdueler)
noun
duellist (ˈduellist) or US duelist (ˈduelist)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Medieval Latin duellum, from Latin, poetical variant of bellum war; associated by folk etymology with Latin duo two
Examples of 'duelling' in a sentence
duelling
One had a cut above his cheekbone like an old duelling scar.
Brierley, David SKORPION'S DEATH (2003)
With their duelling guitars and superb craftsmanship, they can always be relied--'
David Cavanagh MUSIC FOR BOYS (2003)
What if it were, say, the practice of duelling?
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Duelling was popular in the 17th and 18th centuries but then grew distasteful.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Two of our industry's greats duelling with words and the confluence of ideas.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They are duelling over alleged patent infringement.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
This duelling has gone on down the centuries without benefit of a referee.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You win by achieving objectives and duelling with enemy generals.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
All related terms of 'duelling'
affaire d'honneur
a duel
affaires d'honneur
a duel
duel
A duel is a formal fight between two people in which they use guns or swords in order to settle a quarrel.
duelled
a prearranged combat with deadly weapons between two people following a formal procedure in the presence of seconds and traditionally fought until one party was wounded or killed, usually to settle a quarrel involving a point of honour
duelling pistol
one of a pair of identical pistols made specifically for use in duels