n.
Pronunciation: ' st ā l- ˌ m ā t
Function: noun
Etymology: obsolete English stale stalemate (fr. Middle English, from Anglo-French estaler to stalemate, from estal station, position) + English 1 mate ― 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