hammerlock
hammerlock Lexical Profile
hammerlock Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A wrestling hold in which an opponent's arm is bent at the elbow and twisted upward behind their back, immobilizing the shoulder joint.
"The defending champion quickly secured a tight hammerlock to control his opponent on the mat."
Complete dominance, control, or a monopolistic grip over a situation, market, or group.
"The software giant has maintained a virtual hammerlock on the operating system market for over a decade."
• verb
To restrain or immobilize (an opponent) by applying a hammerlock hold.
"The referee watched closely as the wrestler attempted to hammerlock his rival near the edge of the ring."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in late 19th-century American wrestling terminology as a compound of 'hammer' and 'lock', comparing the sharp right-angle bend of the opponent's arm behind the back to the head and handle of a hammer.