noun
Used for the scheduled end of an event, performance, game, or sales period. Common in sumo (final match), concerts, and limited-time offers.
本日の公演は打ち止めとなりました。
Today's performance has come to an end.
大相撲の打ち止め一番は横綱同士
The final bout of the sumo tournament was a match between two yokozuna.
noun
closing a pachinko machine
Specific to pachinko parlors: the machine is closed after paying out its maximum designated amount. Not used outside this context.
その台は打ち止めになったので、別の台に移った。
That machine was closed, so I moved to another one.
Compound of 打ち (uchi, continuative form of 打つ 'to strike, hit') and 止め (dome, continuative form of 止める 'to stop'). Originally referred to stopping a performance or game by striking a drum or gong, later generalized to any scheduled end.