armlock

noun

1. A wrestling move in which the opponent's arm is held immobile.
2. Any of several distinct attacks against an opponent’s arm in martial arts.
3. 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.”

4. (broadly, figuratively)Power to control or heavily influence something or someone.

   “Mr Chávez remains a formidable opponent. […] He has an armlock on the country’s institutions.”

verb

1. (transitive)To hold in an armlock.