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origin of stalemate

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kjc0123 | 04:57 Fri 08th Oct 2004 | Phrases & Sayings
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what is the origin and exact meaning of stalemate?
prev the exact meaning of "strike out on their own"?
  
next hammer out
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The 'stale' part developed from an old noun 'stale', which meant a lover whose total devotion has become a source of amusement now that the affair is over. The 'mate' part comes from the Old French word 'mat' meaning much the same as we now mean when we use 'matt', as in a form of paint finish. It means without lustre or life.

In the joint form 'stalemate', the suggestion is that the matter (ie the game of chess) is finished but in a drab and flat rather than a decisive way.

09:10 Fri 08th Oct 2004
Avatar Image Quizmonster
Sorry...I should have added that the meaning of the word is an unsatisfactory draw in chess. That is, one player's king is not actually in check - ie directly threatened by his opponent - but yet has no possible legal move. In other words, the game just fizzles out.
09:14 Fri 08th Oct 2004

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