duel

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdul/, /ˈd(j)u.əl/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English duelle,^[2][3][4] borrowed from Medieval Latin duellum (“combat between two persons”),^{[2][3][5][4][6]} from Old Latin duellum “war”, the early form of bellum (see bellicose).^{[2][3][5][4][6]} The old form survived in poetic language, and in Medieval Latin it took the special sense “single combat” through a fancied connection with duo “two”.^[3][5] The Italian form duello was also used in English.^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A judicial single combat, trial by battle (1284 in the OED, in Latin form; about 1475 in English in Barnhart; late 15th century in Etymonline).^[7][3][5]

Semantic evolution

The general sense, any contest between two persons or parties, dates from the 1590s.^[5][7] By the early 17th century duel had taken on its specialized meaning: a premeditated private fight between two persons with deadly weapons, in the presence of at least two witnesses, usually to settle a point of honour.^[5][7] The verb dates from about 1645,^[3][7][4][5] and duellist from 1592.^[3]

Timeline

• 1284 – judicial single combat (Latin form).^[7]
• about 1475 – duelle.^[3]
• 1591 – any contest between two parties.^[7]
• 1592 – duellist.^[3]
• 1606 – a prearranged private fight with deadly weapons.^[7]
• c. 1645 – verb, to fight a duel.^[7][3][4]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A prearranged, formal combat with weapons between two persons, fought in the presence of witnesses, usually to settle a point of honour.
2. A struggle between two contending persons, groups or ideas; a hard-fought contest between two opponents.
3. (historical) Trial by combat; wager of battle.

Verb

1. To fight a duel, or engage in a contest as if in a duel.
2. To oppose actively and forcefully.

Word family

• dueler
• outduel
• duelist

Related words

• duello
• dual
• bellicose
• belligerent
• rebel

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press