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.

Words nearby half nelson

half landing, half leather, half measure, half moon, half mourning, half nelson, half note, half of it, half pay, half pint, half relief

Compare nelson.

Origin of half nelson

First recorded in 1885–90

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for half-nelson

Twice Watson essayed the offensive; first he got a hammer lock, and then a half-Nelson.
The Blind Spot|Austin Hall
And now Kennell, with his snakelike glide, closed in again, and Ned seized him without warning in a half-Nelson.
The Dreadnought Boys on Battle Practice|John Henry Goldfrap
Then she got a half-Nelson on Poe's "Raven" and put it out of business.
You Should Worry Says John Henry|George V. Hobart
I had to get a half-nelson on you to pull you into the flat that night.
The Boy Grew Older|Heywood Broun

All this legislation enables you to get the half-nelson on your employer.
A Safety Match|Ian Hay

British Dictionary definitions for half-nelson

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 neckCompare full nelson

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012