The term "half nelson" is a wrestling move that involves the wrestler putting one hand behind their opponent's neck and their other arm under their opponent's arm. The word "half" is pronounced /hæf/ in IPA phonetic transcription, which represents the unvoiced glottal fricative /h/ sound, the short vowel /æ/ sound, and the unvoiced labiodental fricative /f/ sound. The word "nelson" is pronounced /nɛlsən/ in IPA phonetic transcription, which represents the voiced alveolar nasal /n/ sound, the mid front unrounded vowel /ɛ/ sound, the unvoiced alveolar fricative /s/ sound, and the schwa /ə/ sound.
The term "half nelson" is primarily used in the context of wrestling and is defined as a technique in which one person wraps their arm under their opponent's arm and locks their hand behind the opponent's neck, while using their other arm to control the opponent's body or apply pressure. This technique is commonly used in various grappling sports and martial arts disciplines.
In a half nelson, the person applying the move positions themselves behind their opponent, with one arm reaching under their opponent's arm and grabbing their own wrist or hand at the back of the opponent's neck. The other arm can either be used to control the opponent's other arm or to apply pressure on their body to maintain control. The half nelson is often utilized to immobilize the opponent, restrict their movement, or as a setup to transition into other moves or submission holds.
The term "half nelson" can also be used metaphorically outside of wrestling to describe a certain level of control or influence over a situation. This slang usage implies a position of partial control or dominance over someone or something, similar to how one would have partial control over an opponent's body in the wrestling maneuver. For example, in a business context, someone might say they have a "half nelson" on a deal if they have enough influence to significantly impact the outcome, but not complete control.
The term "half nelson" originates from the world of wrestling and grappling. It is a technique in which one arm is wrapped around the back of an opponent's neck, getting control over them by holding the neck with one hand while using the other hand and the entire body for leverage.
The word "half" in "half nelson" refers to the fact that only one arm is used to grip the opponent's neck. The word "nelson" has uncertain origins, but it likely comes from the name of a person. Several theories exist regarding the specific origins of "nelson" in this context:
1. Lord Nelson: One theory suggests that the term "nelson" was named after the famous British naval officer, Admiral Horatio Nelson.