surrounding at a distance; encircling from afar
Describes people forming a loose circle around something or someone while keeping their distance, often out of caution, curiosity, or respect. Commonly used in the phrase 遠巻きにする.
Onlookers were surrounding the accident scene from a distance.
He was encircled by reporters at a distance and didn't say a word.
Compound of 遠 (とお, 'far') + 巻き (まき, 'winding' or 'encircling'), literally 'winding around from afar'.