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nelson

nelson

1 9.4
A wrestling move that puts one arm under the opponent's arm from behind and presses the neck
  • noun
  • /ˈnɛl.sən/
  • Jargon
translation icon : nelson
  • The arms around his midsection disappeared and were replaced by a half nelson.
  • a half nelson
  • a full nelson
  • put a nelson

Examples

  • The wrestler applied a nelson hold to gain control over his opponent.

  • He went with her as she flipped her weight to overbalance him, and in the process, wrapped his arms around her in a full nelson.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • He put a full nelson on me from behind.

  • His dad has already shown him a couple of basic moves, like the half nelson and the hammerlock, and has promised to teach him how to wrestle for real when he's older.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The Dude is grabbed from behind and muscled away in a half-nelson by another uniformed chauffeur.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • She chokes, breaks his stranglehold, swerves him round, gains a nelson hold on his arms and throat.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The fork broke away, and Bummer pretended to be surprised and pissed, and he got Rudy in a half nelson and walked him around the room.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • One guard has got to his feet and grips Caravaggio around the neck in a half-nelson, others holding his legs, while Müller approaches.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • During the match, he succeeded in executing a half nelson to pin his rival.

  • After practicing for weeks, she finally mastered the full nelson and surprised her coach.

Synonyms

half nelson
vsnelson
  • Jargon
1 7.4

A wrestling hold where one arm goes under the opponent's arm and presses the back of the neck

applies the same press but specifically from behind the opponent

Compounds

full nelson
  • Specialized
2 8.1

A wrestling hold that locks both hands behind the opponent's neck and is banned in amateur wrestling

half nelson
  • Jargon
1 7.4

A wrestling hold where one arm goes under the opponent's arm and presses the back of the neck

A noble title given to Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealand scientist

How Tight

full nelson
  • Specialized
2 8.1
nelson
  • Jargon
1 9.4

Surface Forms

nelson singular
nelsongs plural

Etymology

Nelson comes from a person's name, probably a 19th-century wrestler called Nelson, and a helpful way to remember it is to picture that name as a 'lock' around the neck and shoulders. So a nelson is a wrestling hold that locks and controls an opponent from behind.