: a hold in which a wrestler encircles an opponent's head with one arm
Examples of headlock in a Sentence
He had me in a headlock.
Recent Examples on the Web
California Video shows deputies repeatedly punching man in headlock during violent arrest in East L.A.
Nov. 21, 2023
Jesse Vega, a local car enthusiast and smog technician who took the video, happened to be filming Alonso’s vehicle — a 1964 Chevrolet Impala — at the time.
—
Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
His erratic on-court behavior — including putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock and striking Jusuf Nurkic — has cost him 21 full games in a season in which Golden State is fighting for the 10th seed.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024
This, from a woman who can now put her detractors in a headlock.
—Mattie Kahn, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
Police went to Murillo’s Canoga Park home about 7:15 p.m. after a 911 call of a family disturbance — Murillo was said to be involved in a physical altercation with his sister and had put her fiance in a headlock.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Majors then forcefully grabbed Grace, placing her in a headlock and put his hand over her mouth to prevent someone from hearing her cries for help.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024
One of the victims was put into a headlock and punched.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2024
Before either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Golden State Warriors scored a point on Tuesday, jerseys were yanked, a headlock was applied, and three players got the boot.
—Robert O’Connell, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is investigating the death of a homeless man who was put into a headlock by a subway passenger on Monday.
—Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 3 May 2023
Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
His erratic on-court behavior — including putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock and striking Jusuf Nurkic — has cost him 21 full games in a season in which Golden State is fighting for the 10th seed.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024
This, from a woman who can now put her detractors in a headlock.
—Mattie Kahn, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
Police went to Murillo’s Canoga Park home about 7:15 p.m. after a 911 call of a family disturbance — Murillo was said to be involved in a physical altercation with his sister and had put her fiance in a headlock.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Majors then forcefully grabbed Grace, placing her in a headlock and put his hand over her mouth to prevent someone from hearing her cries for help.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024
One of the victims was put into a headlock and punched.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2024
Before either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Golden State Warriors scored a point on Tuesday, jerseys were yanked, a headlock was applied, and three players got the boot.
—Robert O’Connell, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is investigating the death of a homeless man who was put into a headlock by a subway passenger on Monday.
—Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 3 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'headlock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1876, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near headlock
Cite this Entry
“Headlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headlock. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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