stalemate

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsteɪlmeɪt/

noun

[mass noun] Chess
  • a position counting as a draw, in which a player is not in check but cannot move except into check: last time I played him it ended up in stalemate
  • a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible: the war had again reached stalemate

verb

[with object]
  • bring to or cause to reach stalemate: (as adjective stalemated) the currently stalemated peace talks

Origin:

mid 18th century: from obsolete stale (from Anglo-Norman French estale 'position', from estaler 'be placed') + mate2