duel (duel)

[= D. Dan. duel = G. Sw. duell, deadly weapons, and usually in the presence of at least two witne es, called for the purpose of deciding quarrel, avenging an in sult, or clearing the honor of one of the combatants, or of some third party whose cause he champions. The origin of the modern practice of dueling was doubtle the judicial combat or wager of battle resorted to in the middle ages as a means of settling disputes. The practice was formerly common, but has generally been suppre ed by adverse public opinion in civilized countries. In England and the United States dueling is illegal, death resulting from this cause being regarded as murder, no matter how fair the combat may have been; and the seconds are liable to severe punishment as acce ories. Deliberate dueling is where both parties meet avowedly with intent to murder. In law the offense of dueling consists in the invitation to fight; and the crime is complete on the delivery of a challenge. They then advanced to fight the duel With swords of temper'd steel. Sir Hugh le Blond (Child's Ballads, III. 258). A certain Saracen...challenged the stoutest Christian of all the army to a duell . Coryat , Crudities, I. 119. And unto me addoom that is my dew . dent quarrel. 2 Bishop , Cr. L. (7th ed.), 313, I'll give thee thy due , thou hast paid all there. Measuring thy course, fair Stream! at length I pay To my life's neighbour dues of neighbourhood. Words worth, The River Eden, Cumber land. For I am but an earthly Muse, And owning but a little art, To lull with song an aching heart, And render human love his dues . Tennyson, In Memoriam, xxxvii. Specifically-2. Any toll, tribute, fee, or other legal exaction: as, custom-house dues ; excise dues. Men that cleave the soil, Sow the seed, and reap the harvest with enduring toil, Storing yearly little dues of wheat and wine and oil. Tennyson, The Lotos-Eaters (Choric Song). 3. Right; just title. The key of this infernal pit by due I keep. Milton , P. L., ii. 850. Easter dues. See Easterl . For a full due ( naut .), so that it need not be done again. The stays and then the shrouds are set up for a full Luce , Seamanship, p. 116. due . Sound dues, a toll or tribute levied by Denmark from an early date (it is mentioned as early as 1319) until 1857, on merchant ve els pa ing through the Sound between Denmark and Sweden. These dues were an important source of revenue for Denmark; they were sometimes partially suspended, were regulated by various treaties, and continued until abolished for a compensation fixed by treaties with the maritime nations. To give the devil his due. See devil. duel (dū), adv. [ especially, a military contest between parties representing the same arm of the service. The Son of God, Now entering his great duel , not of arms, But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles. Milton , P. R., 1. 174. The long-range artillery duels so popular at one time The Century, XXXVI, 104. in the war. duel (du'el), r.; pret. and pp. dueled, duelled, ppr. dueling, duelling. [= D. duelleren = G. duelliren Dan. duellere = Sw. dueller a; from the noun.] I. in trans. To engage in single combat; fight a duel. With the king of France duelled he. Metrical Romances , lii, 297. II. trans. To meet and fight in a duel; overcome or kill in a duel. Who, single combatant, Duell'd their armies rank'd in proud array, Himself an army. Milton , S. A., 1. 345, He must at length, poor man! die dully of old age at home; when here he might so fashionably and gentilely, long before that time, have been duell'd or flux'd into another world. South , Works, II. vi. The stage on which St. George duelled and killed the dragon.