A formal fight between two people with matched weapons, typically to settle a point of honor; any contest or rivalry between two parties.
From Italian 'duello,' derived from Latin 'duellum,' an archaic form of 'bellum' meaning 'war.' The word specifically referred to combat between two people, distinguishing it from larger conflicts.
The last recorded formal duel in the United States was fought in 1859, but the word lives on in contexts ranging from guitar duels in music to advertising wars between competing brands. Interestingly, many famous historical figures including Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and Andrew Jackson participated in duels, making this violent practice part of early American political culture.
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