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• nelson
  nelson

  noun

  a hold in which pressure is applied to the head, back of the neck, and one or both arms of the opponent.
• Nelson
  Nelson

  noun

  Viscount Horatio, 1758–1805, British admiral.

nelson

¹ American  

[nel-suhn] / ˈnɛl sən /

noun

Wrestling.

nelsons plural

1. a hold in which pressure is applied to the head, back of the neck, and one or both arms of the opponent.

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Nelson ² American  

[nel-suhn] / ˈnɛl sən /

noun

1. Viscount Horatio, 1758–1805, British admiral.

2. (John) Byron, 1911–2006, U.S. golf player.

3. Prince Rogers. Prince.

4. a river in central Canada, flowing northeast from Lake Winnipeg to Hudson Bay. 400 miles (645 km) long.

5. a seaport on northern South Island, in New Zealand.

6. a male given name.

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Nelson ¹ British  

/ ˈnɛlsən /

noun

1. a town in NW England, in E Lancashire: textile industry. Pop: 28 998 (2001)

2. a port in New Zealand, on N South Island on Tasman Bay. Pop: 45 300 (2004 est)

3. a river in central Canada, in N central Manitoba, flowing from Lake Winnipeg northeast to Hudson Bay. Length: about 650 km (400 miles)

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Nelson ² British  

/ ˈnɛlsən /

noun

1. Horatio, Viscount Nelson. 1758–1805, British naval commander during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He became rear admiral in 1797 after the battle of Cape St Vincent and in 1798 almost destroyed the French fleet at the battle of the Nile. He was killed at Trafalgar (1805) after defeating Villeneuve's fleet

2. Willie. born 1933, US country singer and songwriter

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nelson ³ British  

/ ˈnɛlsən /

noun

1. any wrestling hold in which a wrestler places his arm or arms under his opponent's arm or arms from behind and exerts pressure with his palms on the back of his opponent's neck See full nelson half-nelson

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• nelsons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nelson

First recorded in 1885–90; special use of name Nelson

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nelson Nelson

But if Horford and the Celtics can keep the Bucks’ lightning bolt in a full nelson, then Milwaukee’s once-promising season will be in significant peril.

From Slate ● Apr. 28, 2019

At Poolesville’s practice, Dorsey needed his neck, as he thrust his head inside the crook of a student’s arm and explained the business end of a quarter nelson.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 20, 2015

The relationship between the two antic entertainers is like a half nelson after a series of handshakes.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Engineers' heroes were Pilgrim McRaven, an ex-G.I. who won the 121-lb. class, and Ed Erikson, who pinned his man in the 165-lb. finals with a half nelson and a body press.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss

Jesy Nelson calls plan to test newborns for life-limiting muscle condition a 'victory'

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

Nelson worries that if the AI market crashes, some of the best farmland in America will be stuck housing idled data centers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

Nelson: “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” was a big turning point for me.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

After reports of the incident surfaced in June, Chief Circuit Judge Mary H. Murguia ordered an inquiry into judicial misconduct — a charge that could land Nelson with an official reprimand or other penalty.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

I know Mom’s trying her best, but I’m the last Nelson, the only one who can save that land now.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio