noun
nelson
NEHL-suhn
noun
1
A wrestling hold in which one arm is forced up behind the opponent's back.
"He locked in a full nelson to pin his opponent."
How to Use Nelson
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wrestling arm-lock move; also a common surname and given name.
Common pairings
full nelson
half nelson
Word Forms
nelsons plural, Nelsons plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “nelson”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He locked in a full _____ to pin his opponent.
Etymology
The wrestling hold name is a back-formation from "full nelson"; the origin of that term itself is uncertain.