duel

Duel refers to a prearranged formal combat between two individuals, fought under a published code of rules to settle a grievance, often related to honor or reputation. Duels were common in Europe and the Americas from the late medieval period through the 19th century, especially among the aristocracy and military officers. They took various forms, most notably pistol duels and sword duels. In pistol duels, participants stood a fixed distance apart and exchanged shots, with the option to yield; in sword duels, combatants faced each other with blades under strict constraints. In all forms, a pair of seconds accompanied each combatant to verify terms, arrange weapons, and negotiate reconciliation to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

Codes of honor regulated dueling practice. The Code Duello and related regional rules standardized procedures, including who could challenge whom, the role of seconds and physicians, and the conditions under which combat would proceed or be halted. These rules aimed to ensure fairness and safety while preserving the appearance of honor being vindicated.

Notable duels include the 1804 pistol duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in Weehawken, New Jersey, and the 1833 duel between Andrew Jackson and Charles Dickinson. Public and legal opposition to dueling grew during the 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to its decline in most places, though isolated cases persisted.

In culture, duels have remained potent symbols in literature and film as demonstrations of pride, risk, and consequence, and the term is often used metaphorically to describe decisive, high-stakes competition.