half nelson

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

half′ nel′son, [Wrestling.]

1. Sport a hold in which a wrestler, from behind the opponent, passes one arm under the corresponding arm of the opponent and locks the hand on the back of the opponent's neck. Cf. nelson. 

• 1885–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

half-nelson noun

1. a wrestling hold in which a wrestler places an arm under one of an opponent's arms from behind and exerts pressure with the palm on the back of the opponent's neck
   Compare full nelson