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

Pandit caught the fanatic's wiry arm and brought it behind his scrawny back in a hammerlock.

From Project Gutenberg

The business with Hammerlock Smith had taken more time than I had thought it would.

From Project Gutenberg

The odd thing was that the psychopathic twist which got Hammerlock Smith into trouble had been able to get him out of it again.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the hammerlock and he soon had the hunchback begging for mercy.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus through no great skill of my own the fortunes of war had given me a hammerlock on him.

From Project Gutenberg