hammerlock

or ham·mer lock

[ ham-er-lok ]

noun

, Wrestling.

1. a hold in which one arm of an opponent is twisted and forced upward behind his back.

hammerlock

/ ˈhæməˌlɒk /

noun

1. a wrestling hold in which a wrestler twists his opponent's arm upwards behind his back

Word History and Origins

Origin of hammerlock¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; hammer + lock ¹

Example Sentences

One night recently on ABC’s “20-20,” reporter John Stossel tried to put a hammerlock on the “sport” known as pro wrestling.

From Los Angeles Times

Together, they planned to take on Google’s hammerlock on the internet.

From New York Times

Mr. McConnell said a motion to vacate is akin to a “hammerlock of dysfunction” — no matter who is speaker.

From Washington Times

Conservatives have controlled the state’s Supreme Court since 2008, and Republicans have held a hammerlock on the Legislature since 2011, when the party drew itself an impenetrable majority after taking control in a wave election.

From New York Times

Some far-flung communities — Charlotte and Minneapolis, for example — have taken steps to undo the hammerlock of single-family zoning.

From Washington Post