Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DU'EL, n. [L. duellum; Fr. duel; It. duello; Port. Id.; Sp. duelo. In Armoric, the word is dufell, or duvell, and Gregoire supposes the word to be compounded of dou, two, and bell, bellum, war, combat. So in Dutch, tweegevegt, two-fight; in G. zweikampf, id.]

1. Single combat; a premeditated combat between two persons, for the purpose of deciding some private difference or quarrel. A sudden fight, not premeditated, is called a rencounter. A duel is fought with deadly weapons, and with a purpose to take life.
2. Any contention or contest. – Milton.