noun
headlock
noun
1
A wrestling hold in which one person clamps an arm tightly around another's head so they can't easily break free.
"He caught his opponent in a headlock and refused to let go."
verb
1
To restrain someone by putting them in this hold.
"The bouncer headlocked the troublemaker and walked him outside."
How to Use Headlock
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wrestling grip that traps someone's head under your arm.
Common pairings
put someone in a headlock
break free from a headlock
Word Forms
headlocked past tense, headlocks plural, headlocks singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “headlock”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He caught his opponent in a _____ and refused to let go.
Etymology
A compound of head and lock, describing a hold that "locks" the head in place.