I. ˈstāl-ˌmāt noun
Etymology: obsolete English stale stalemate (from Middle English, from Anglo-French estaler to stalemate, from estal station, position) + English mate (I) — more at installment
Date: 1765
1. : a drawing position in chess in which a player is not in checkmate but has no legal move to play
2. : a drawn contest : deadlock ; also : the state of being stalemated
II. transitive verb
Date: 1765
: to bring into a stalemate