duels
Pistols at dawn
Duels are formal, prearranged fights between two people, historically conducted with swords or pistols to settle a matter of honor or resolve a dispute.
The practice was once a socially accepted way for gentlemen to defend their reputations, though it was often illegal and frequently fatal.
Today the word extends to any intense one-on-one contest: The two candidates engaged in a verbal duel during the debate.
As a verb, to duel is to fight or compete in this manner.
Art of fighting with blades
- pistolsSmall one-handed firearms
- rapierSlender dueling blade
- sabreCurved single-edged sword
- epeeFencing blade
flintlock · musket · seconds · pistoleer · quickdraw · showdown · gunfighter · fencing
Knightly code of honor
- gentlemanCourteous, honorable man
- satisfactionState of fulfilled desires
- insultOffensive remark or action
- affrontDeliberate public insult
challenge · glove · seconds · formality · tradition · etiquette · reputation · disgrace
Direct clash between opponents
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- boutLimited stretch of something
match · opponent · adversary · standoff · clash · competition · one-on-one · head-to-head
Angry verbal dispute
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
- conflictOpposition between parties
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
vendetta · enmity · animosity · confrontation · reckoning · antagonism · hostility
swordplay
Art of fighting with blades
epee · flintlock · musket · seconds · pistoleer · quickdraw · showdown · gunfighter · fencing · swordfight
chivalry
Knightly code of honor
- gentlemanCourteous, honorable man
- satisfactionState of fulfilled desires
- insultOffensive remark or action
affront · challenge · glove · seconds · formality · tradition · etiquette · reputation · disgrace · vindication
face-off
Direct clash between opponents
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
bout · match · opponent · adversary · standoff · clash · competition · one-on-one · head-to-head · stakes
quarrel
Angry verbal dispute
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
- conflictOpposition between parties
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
grudge · vendetta · enmity · animosity · confrontation · reckoning · antagonism · hostility
- Westernscowboys, western, outlaws, sheriffs, western novels
- Wild Westcowboy, howdy, sheriff, giddyup, lawmen
- tournamentstournament, tournaments, bracket, brackets, tournament brackets
- Duelingpistols at dawn, seconds, field of honor, affair of honor, en garde
- Regency SocietyRegency, manners, etiquette, courtship, ballrooms
- two-player gameschess, checkers, backgammon, tic-tac-toe, Connect Four
duelsmelees
Chaotic group fights
brawls · free-for-alls · street fights · battles · wars
duelstruces
Agreements to cease fighting
peace treaties · reconciliations · ceasefires · accords · agreements
duelsnegotiations
Formal discussion seeking agreement
mediation · arbitration · diplomacy · peace talks · reconciliation
- pitcher's duelLow-scoring contest between starters
- dueling pistolsMatched guns for formal combat
- dueling pianosCompetitive two-piano performance
- sword duelArmed single combat
- duelling pistolsMatched firearms for ritualized combat
- dueling banjosAlternating stringed instrument exchange
duel, dueling, dueled, duelist, duelled, duelling, duellists, duellist, duellers