flanking

This term is heavily rooted in military strategy, evoking the image of bypassing a frontal assault to strike an opponent's vulnerable side. While it is used in tactical contexts, it also describes architectural or geographical arrangements where objects are positioned symmetrically on either side of a central point.

As a noun, the word refers to the specific strategic action of a maneuver. When used as an adjective, it describes the state of being situated on the side. Because it is derived from the verb flank, its usage as a noun is often uncountable when referring to the general concept of the maneuver, though it can be countable when referring to specific instances of such movements.