armlockEtymologyFrom arm + lock.nounA wrestling move in which the opponent's arm is held immobile.Any of several distinct attacks against an opponent’s arm in martial arts.A fighting hold in which the arm is used to immobilise an opponent.“It would keep the bone-cage of his body safe: no enemy's clasp would crush him in it, no vicious armlock choke his life out.”Power to control or heavily influence something or someone.“Mr Chávez remains a formidable opponent. […] He has an armlock on the country’s institutions.”verbTo hold in an armlock.