nelson
nelson Lexical Profile
nelson Game Scores & Validity
• noun
New Zealand A city situated on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand, renowned for its sunny climate and thriving arts scene.
A wrestling hold in which one or both arms are passed under the opponent's arm from behind and applied to the back of the neck.
"The wrestler pinned his opponent to the mat after securing a tight full nelson."
British A score of 111 in the sport of cricket, traditionally considered an unlucky number and associated with the superstition of 'Nelson's eye, arm, and leg'.
"The crowd held its breath as the batsman reached a nelson, hoping he wouldn't fall victim to the traditional bad luck."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a common noun denoting a wrestling hold, it is almost exclusively used in the phrases 'half nelson' and 'full nelson'. When referring to the geographical locations or the surname, it must be capitalized.
• Rhymes for nelson
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The wrestling hold is generally believed to be named after Admiral Horatio Nelson (due to the use of arm restraints referencing his lost arm) or a 19th-century wrestler of the same name. The surname itself is patronymic, meaning 'son of Nell'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.