half nelson

noun

Wrestling.

a hold in which a wrestler, from behind the opponent, passes one arm under the corresponding arm of the opponent and locks the hand on the back of the opponent's neck.

half-nelson

noun

a wrestling hold in which a wrestler places an arm under one of his opponent's arms from behind and exerts pressure with his palm on the back of his opponent's neck Compare full nelson

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Word History and Origins

Origin of half nelson¹

First recorded in 1885–90

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

To teach his son the “half nelson” move, the coach had a young Szkotnicki demonstrate it on him.

From

Police were called to a home on May 29 and found Strong’s 39-year-old roommate holding him down with a wrestling move called a “half nelson.”

From

Arriving officers reported entering a bedroom with a damaged door and finding a 39-year-old man holding Calvin Strong, 42, face down in what the younger man called a half nelson.

From

All he needed to do was shift his weight and sink the half nelson.

From

“Yeah,” said Harry, twisting Kreacher’s wizened arm into a half nelson.

From

half-naked half note

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