deadlock
UK[ˈdɛdlɒk]US[ˈdɛdlɑːk]
n
A situation in an argument, contest, or conflict in which no progress can be made because neither side will give way.
n
A situation in computing where two or more processes are each waiting for the other to finish, preventing any from proceeding.
Morpheme Breakdown
dead
lock
dead
lifeless, deceased.
lock
a fastening, enclosure.
Etymology
The word 'deadlock' is a vivid compound formed from two native English elements. 'Dead,' with its ancient Proto-Germanic root daudaz, evolved from its literal sense of "lifeless" to acquire a figurative meaning of "complete" or "unresponsive," as seen in terms like 'dead stop' or 'dead calm.' 'Lock,' from Proto-Germanic lukan, originally referred to a physical fastening mechanism. By the late 18th century, these two words were combined to create a powerful metaphor: a 'deadlock' describes a standstill so absolute it is as if the situation is completely fastened shut, with no inherent mechanism for release. This logic perfectly captures the essence of an unresolvable impasse, whether in a negotiation, a game, or a computer process.
Analysis
Structure: dead + lock
dead: From Old English dēad, meaning "lifeless, deceased." In this compound, it functions as an intensifier meaning "absolute, complete, unyielding."
lock: From Old English loc, meaning "a fastening, enclosure." In this compound, it functions as the core noun, meaning a state of being fastened or stuck.
Examples
The negotiations reached a deadlock over the issue of funding.
To avoid a political deadlock, a compromise was hastily arranged.
The software engineer debugged a program that was causing a system deadlock.