full nelson

noun

1. a hold in which a wrestler, from behind the opponent, passes each arm under the corresponding arm of the opponent and locks the arms at the fingers or wrists on the back of the opponent's neck.

full nelson

noun

1. See half-nelson
   a wrestling hold, illegal in amateur wrestling, in which a wrestler places both arms under his opponent's arms from behind and exerts pressure with both palms on the back of the neck Compare half-nelson

Word History and Origins

Origin of full nelson¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

We arrived at the opening at the same moment and I got a "full-Nelson" on the greasy blackguard.

From Project Gutenberg

The arms locked behind his back in an unbreakable full nelson.

From Project Gutenberg