Main Entry:

¹stale·mate

Pronunciation:

\ˈstāl-ˌmāt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

obsolete English stale stalemate (from Middle English, from Anglo-French estaler to stalemate, from estal station, position) + English ¹mate — 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 play2: a drawn contest : deadlock ; also : the state of being stalemated