deloping
Posted by Linden on May 16, 1998 at 19:30:37:
In response to Eliza and the duel, written by Barbara on May 15, 1998 at 19:58:07
] I think it was acceptable to shoot into the air and it was called "deloping" or something like that.
I believe that if you deloped it was an admission that you were in the wrong. (I confess, I get most of this from reading Georgette Heyer, so it may not be altogether accurate.)
Willoughby might delope, but the Colonel would not. I think they just missed.
A duel with pistols was chancier than a duel with swords. A sword fight would not end until one of the duellists was wounded or at the other person's mercy. A pistol duel would end after one exchange of shots - more chance of getting killed, but also more chance of both duellists escaping completely. There was therefore strategy as well as skill in a pistol duel: do you fire first and hope to disable your opponent, or do you wait till he's fired and take your time about aiming?
- Twice Ken 12:52:50 5/19/98
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