duel

Where does the word "duel" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin duellum, passing through French before entering English (1590s).

Duel’s story begins in Medieval Latin: duellum meant “war.” An old form of 'bellum', war, reinterpreted as from 'duo', two. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as duel. A fight between two. It reached English by 1590s as duel. Duelling was banned in England in the 1800s. Today, duel means a contest between two people.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval duellum "war", an old form of 'bellum', war, reinterpreted as from 'duo', two.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1500s duel "single combat", a fight between two.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1590s duel "fight between two", duelling was banned in England in the 1800s.