The Collaborative International Dictionary
Trial by duel
Duel \Du"el\, n. [It. duello, fr. L. duellum, orig., a contest between two, which passed into the common form bellum war, fr. duo two: cf. F. duel. See Bellicose, Two, and cf. Duello.] A combat between two persons, fought with deadly weapons, by agreement. It usually arises from an injury done or an affront given by one to the other.
Trial by duel (Old Law), a combat between two persons for proving a cause; trial by battel.