standoff

Etymology

From the verb phrase stand off.

noun

1. A device which maintains a fixed distance between two objects, especially between a surface and a sign or electrical wiring.
2. A deadlocked confrontation between antagonists.
   I don't want to get involved in the standoff between those two.
   A tense standoff between demonstrators and police continued overnight.
   In recent months, both Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Captain America: Civil War have offered up big, flashy superhero standoffs as feuds of ideology and stubborn will. May 23, 2016, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, “Apocalypse pits the strengths of the X-Men series against the weaknesses”, in The Onion AV Club

adj

1. (military) For use at a distance sufficient from the target to allow defensive fire to be evaded.
   a standoff bomb, missile, or weapon

verb

1. Nonstandard spelling of stand off.