color

colors (plural)
colour (alternative Commonwealth Ireland)
usage notes (alternative)

From Middle English colour, color, borrowed from Anglo-Norman colur, from Old French colour, color, from Latin color. Doublet of couleur.
Displaced English blee, Middle English blee (“color”), from Old English blēo. Also partially replaced Old English hīew (“color”) and its descendants (English hue), which is less often used in this sense.
The spelling color was popularized in modern American English by Noah Webster, to match the spelling of the word's Latin etymon, and make all American spellings of the derivatives consistent (colorimeter, coloration, colorize, colorless, etc).

колори́т

interest, especially in a selective area

The local hero is getting color in tonight's spectacle.

professional wrestling
professional wrestling

(professional wrestling slang) To bleed, either through injury or blading. Usally prefaced with "get".


work

en-noun

work (countable and uncountable, plural works)

works (plural)
werke (alternative)
worke (alternative)
wuk (alternative)
werk (alternative)
werq (alternative)

Pijin: waka

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *werǵ-
Proto-Indo-European *-om
Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom
Proto-Germanic *werką
Proto-West Germanic *werk
Old English weorc
Middle English werk
English work
From Middle English work, werk, from Old English weorc, from Proto-West Germanic *werk, from Proto-Germanic *werką, from Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom.
Akin to Scots wark, Saterland Frisian Wierk, West Frisian wurk, Dutch werk, German Werk, German Low German Wark, Danish værk, Norwegian Bokmål verk, Norwegian Nynorsk verk, Swedish verk, yrke and orka, Icelandic verk, Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌺𐌹 (gawaurki), Ancient Greek ἔργον (érgon, “work”) (from ϝέργον (wérgon)), Avestan 𐬬𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬰 (vər^əz, “to work, to perform”), Armenian գործ (gorc, “work”), Albanian argëtoj (“entertain, reward, please”), Russian варганить (varganitʹ, “"to whip up, to cook something quickly, to throw together"”). English cognates include bulwark, boulevard, energy, erg, georgic, liturgy, metallurgy, organ, surgeon, wright. Doublet of erg and ergon.

աշխատանք

thermodynamics: energy in transit between one form or repository and another

all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

(uncountable, slang, professional wrestling) The staging of events to appear as real.


DDT

Various theories; see DDT (professional wrestling).

(professional wrestling) a move where a wrestler puts another wrestler into a standing front face lock and then falls backwards, driving the recipient's head into the floor.


bomb

From French bombe, from Italian bomba, from Latin bombus (“a booming sound”), from Ancient Greek βόμβος (bómbos, “booming, humming, buzzing”), imitative of the sound itself. Doublet of bombe. Compare boom.

onomatopoeic

imitative

(professional wrestling) A professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted and then slammed back-first down to the mat.


dual

duals (plural)
du. (alternative abbreviation)

PIE word
 *dwóh₁
Borrowed from Latin dualis (“two”), from duo (“two”) + adjective suffix -alis.

Wrestling duals and meets take place at the Wisconsin Field House. There are no advance single event ticket sales.

2010 August 3, Kevin Revolinski, Insiders' Guide® to Madison, WI, Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 137:

But Dave agreed to participate in the Bulgarian dual, and that trapped me into having to wrestle, too.

2014 November 18, Mark Schultz, David Thomas, Foxcatcher: The True Story of My Brother's Murder, John du Pont's Madness, and the Quest for Olympic Gold, Penguin, →ISBN:

Early in 2021, she became the first female to compete and win a match at the Ter-Hark Cup wrestling dual, helping her squad to victory.

2023 October 19, Jason Norman, American Women in Amateur Wrestling, 2000-2022, McFarland, →ISBN, page 203:

(wrestling) A head-to-head match or meet between two teams, such as two high schools or colleges.


fall

en-noun

fall (countable and uncountable, plural falls)

ascent

antonym(s) of “act of moving to a lower position under the effect of gravity”

ascent

antonym(s) of “loss of greatness or status”

Fall Classic
Fall of Baghdad
Fall of Constantinople
Fall of Rome
Fall of Saigon
Falls-to-Falls Corridor
fall

Verb from Middle English fallen, from Old English feallan (“to fall, fail, decay, die, attack”), from Proto-West Germanic *fallan (“to fall”), from Proto-Germanic *fallaną (“to fall”).
Cognate with West Frisian falle (“to fall”), Low German fallen (“to fall”), Dutch vallen (“to fall”), German fallen (“to fall”), Danish falde (“to fall”), Norwegian Bokmål falle (“to fall”), Norwegian Nynorsk falla (“to fall”), Icelandic falla (“to fall”), Lithuanian pùlti (“to attack, rush”).
Noun from Middle English fal, fall, falle, from Old English feall, ġefeall (“a falling, fall”) and Old English fealle (“trap, snare”), from Proto-Germanic *fallą, *fallaz (“a fall, trap”). Cognate with Dutch val, German Fall (“fall”) and German Falle (“trap, snare”), Danish fald, Swedish fall, Icelandic fall.
Sense of "autumn" is attested by the 1660s in England as a shortening of fall of the leaf (1540s), from the falling of leaves during this season. Along with autumn, it mostly replaced the older name harvest as that name began to be associated strictly with the act of harvesting. Compare spring, which began as a shortening of “spring of the leaf”.

inh

(sports) A crucial event or circumstance.

(wrestling) An instance of a wrestler being pinned to the mat.


finish

From Middle English finishen, finisshen, finischen, from Old French finiss-, stem of some of the conjugated forms of finir, from Latin fīnīre, from fīnis (“end, limit, border, boundary”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeygʷ- (“to stick, set up”) or from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to split”).

der

(professional wrestling, slang) The ending of a match and its structure.


angle

From Middle English angle, angul, angule, borrowed from Middle French angle, from Latin angulus, anglus (“corner, remote area”). Cognate with Old High German ancha (“nape of the neck”), Middle High German anke (“joint of the foot, nape of neck”). Doublet of angulus and ankle.

cog

(slang, professional wrestling) A storyline between two wrestlers, providing the background for and approach to a feud.


save

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *sl̥h₂-wós
Proto-Italic *salawos
Latin salvus
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Italic *-āō
Latin -ō
Latin salvō
Latin salvāre
Old French sauverbor.
Middle English saven
English save
From Middle English saven, sauven, a borrowing from Old French sauver, from Late Latin salvāre (“to save”).

etymon

The giant wrestler continued to beat down his smaller opponent, until several wrestlers ran in for the save.

An instance of preventing (further) harm or difficulty.

(professional wrestling, slang) A point in a professional wrestling match when one or more wrestlers run to the ring to aid a fellow wrestler who is being beaten.


face

Sranan Tongo: fesi

→ Danish: fjæs

→ Norwegian:

Norwegian Bokmål: fjes

Norwegian Nynorsk: fjes

→ Swedish: fejs, fjäs

→ Wu: 番斯 (¹fe-sy)

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-?
Latin faciēs
Late Latin facia
Old French facebor.
Middle English face
English face
From Middle English face, from Old French face, from Late Latin facia, from Latin faciēs (“form, appearance”). Doublet of facies. Displaced native onlete (“face, countenance, appearance”), anleth (“face”), from Old English anwlite, andwlita, compare German Antlitz; Old English ansīen (“face”), Middle English neb (“face, nose”) (from Old English nebb), Middle English ler, leor, leer (“face, cheek, countenance”) (from Old English hlēor), and non-native Middle English vis (“face, appearance, look”) (from Old French vis) and Middle English chere (“face”) from Old French chere.
In the sense of face as in reputation, influenced by Chinese 面子 (miànzi) or 臉／脸 (liǎn), both of which mean literally the front of the head and metaphorically one's public image. See lose face.

noncog

talk to the hand 'cause the face ain't listening

The fans cheered on the face as he made his comeback.

(professional wrestling, slang) A headlining wrestler with a persona embodying heroic or virtuous traits and who is regarded as a "good guy", especially one who is handsome and well-conditioned; a baby face.

técnico

professional wrestling: headlining wrestler


heel

From Middle English hele, from Old English hēla, from Proto-West Germanic *hą̄hilō, from Proto-Germanic *hanhilaz, diminutive of Proto-Germanic *hanhaz (“heel, hock”), equivalent to hock + -le. More at hock.
Compare North Frisian haiel, West Frisian hyl, Dutch hiel, German Low German Hiel, Danish and Norwegian hæl, Swedish häl.

couldn't pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel

Freedman began his analysis by noting two important facts about professional wrestling: First, that heels triumph considerably more often than do babyfaces[…]

1992, Bruce Lincoln, Discourse and the Construction of Society, page 158:

(by extension, slang, professional wrestling) A headlining wrestler regarded as a "bad guy," whose ring persona embodies villainous or reprehensible traits and demonstrates characteristics of a braggart and a bully.


pin

→ Norwegian Nynorsk: pins

→ Polish: pin

→ Spanish: pin

→ Swahili: pini

→ Swedish: pin, pins

From Middle English pinne, from Old English pinn (“pin, peg, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *pinnaz, *pinnō, *pint- (“protruding point, peak, peg, pin, nail”), from Proto-Indo-European *bend- (“protruding object, pointed peg, nail, edge”). Related to pen (“enclosure”).
Cognate with Dutch pin (“peg, pin”), Low German pin, pinne (“pin, point, nail, peg”), German Pinn, Pinne (“pin, tack, peg”), Bavarian Pfonzer, Pfunzer (“sharpened point”), Danish pind (“pin, pointed stick”), Norwegian pinn (“stick”), Swedish pinne (“peg, rod, stick”), Icelandic pinni (“pin”). More at pintle.
No relation to classical Latin pinna (“fin, flipper, wing-like appendage, wing, feather”), which was extended to mean "ridge, peak, point" (compare pinnacle), and often confused with Latin penna (“wing, feather”). More at feather and pen (Etymology 3).

cog

(wrestling, professional wrestling) The victory condition of holding the opponent's shoulders on the wrestling mat for a prescribed period of time.


pin

en-verb

pin (third-person singular simple present pins, present participle pinning, simple past and past participle pinned)

pins (present singular third-person)
pinning (participle present)
pinned (participle past)
pinned (past)

He pinned his opponent on the mat.


hold

Derived from Middle English holden, derived from Old English healdan, derived from Proto-West Germanic *haldan, derived from Proto-Germanic *haldaną (“to tend, herd”), maybe derived from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“to drive”).
Cognates
*West Frisian hâlde
*Low German holden, holen
*Dutch houden
*German halten
*Danish
*Norwegian Bokmål holde
*Norwegian Nynorsk halda.
Compare Latin celer (“quick”), Tocharian B käl- (“to goad, drive”), Ancient Greek κέλλω (kéllō, “to drive”), Sanskrit कलयति (kalayati, “to impel”).

der+

He got him in a tight hold and pinned him to the mat.

en:position or grip to control an opponent

(wrestling, self-defense) A position or grip used to control the opponent.


scissors

en-noun

scissors pl (plural only, attributive scissor)

scissor (attributive)
cizars (alternative obsolete)
cizers (alternative obsolete)
scissars (alternative archaic)
sissors (alternative obsolete)

From Middle English sisours (attested since 1350–1400), from Old French cisoirs, from Late Latin cīsōria, plural of cīsōrium (“cutting tool”); from Latin word root -cīsus (compare excise) or caesus, past participle of caedō (“to cut”). Partially displaced native Old English sċēara (“scissors, shears”), whence shears. Doublet of chisel.
The current spelling, from the 16th century, is due to association with Medieval Latin scissor (“tailor”), from Latin carrying the meaning “carver, cutter”, from scindō (“to split”).


bridge

bridges (plural)
bridg (alternative obsolete)
brigge (alternative)

From Middle English brigge, from Old English brycġ (“bridge”), from Proto-Germanic *brugjō, *brugjǭ (“bridge”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerw-, *bʰrēw- (“wooden flooring, decking, bridge”).
Cognate with Scots brig, brigg, breeg (“bridge”), Saterland Frisian Brääch (“bridge”), West Frisian brêge (“bridge”), Dutch brug (“bridge”), German Brücke (“bridge”), Danish brygge (“wharf”), Icelandic brygga (“pier”), Gaulish briua (“bridge”).
The verb is from Middle English briggen, from Old English brycġian (“to bridge, make a causeway, pave”), derived from the noun. Cognate with Dutch bruggen (“to bridge”), Middle Low German bruggen (“to bridge”), Old High German bruccōn (“to bridge”) (whence Modern German brücken).
The musical connection sense is a semantic loan from German Steg, from Old High German steg.

ацҳа

construction or natural feature that spans a divide

if someone told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it

(wrestling) A defensive position in which the wrestler is supported by his feet and head, belly-up, in order to prevent touch-down of the shoulders and eventually to dislodge an opponent who has established a position on top.


bridge

en-verb

bridge (third-person singular simple present bridges, present participle bridging, simple past and past participle bridged)

bridges (present singular third-person)
bridging (participle present)
bridged (participle past)
bridged (past)
bridg (alternative obsolete)
brigge (alternative)

(wrestling) To go to the bridge position.


sell

sell (third-person singular simple present sells, present participle selling, simple past and past participle sold)

sells (present singular third-person)
selling (participle present)
sold (participle past)
sold (past)

desc

Chinese Pidgin English: sellum, 些林 (Chinese spelling)

Sranan Tongo: seri

From Middle English sellen, from Old English sellan (“give; give up for money”), from Proto-West Germanic *salljan, from Proto-Germanic *saljaną, from Proto-Indo-European *selh₁-. Compare Danish sælge, Swedish sälja, Icelandic selja.

inh

buy when it snows(,/ and) sell when it goes

don't sell the skin till you have caught the bear

sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage

(transitive, professional wrestling, slang) To pretend that an opponent's blows or maneuvers are causing legitimate injury; to act.


shoot

en-verb

shoot (third-person singular simple present shoots, present participle shooting, simple past shot, past participle shot or (rare) shotten)

shoots (present singular third-person)
shooting (participle present)
shot (past)
shot (participle past)
shotten (participle past rare)
shoot (infinitive)
shoot (first-person present singular)
shot (first-person past singular)
shooted (archaic first-person past singular)
shoot (present second-person singular)
shootest (archaic present second-person singular)
shot (past second-person singular)
shooted (archaic past second-person singular)
shootedst (archaic past second-person singular)
shoots (present singular third-person)
shooteth (archaic present singular third-person)
shot (past singular third-person)
shooted (archaic past singular third-person)
shoot (plural present)
shot (past plural)
shooted (archaic past plural)
shoot (present subjunctive)
shot (past subjunctive)
shooted (archaic past subjunctive)
shoot (imperative present)
shooting (participle present)
shot (participle past)
shooted (archaic participle past)
shotten (archaic participle past)

→ Catalan: xut

→ Greek: σουτ (sout)

→ Hijazi Arabic: شوت (šūt)

→ North Levantine Arabic: شوت (šūt)

→ Persian: شوت (šut)

desc

→ Portuguese: chuto, chute (Brazil), chutar

→ Romanian: șut

→ Vietnamese: sút

From Middle English shoten, from Old English scēotan, from Proto-West Germanic *skeutan, from Proto-Germanic *skeutaną, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kéwd-e-ti, from *(s)kewd- (“to shoot, throw”).
Cognates
Cognate with West Frisian sjitte, Low German scheten, Dutch schieten, German schießen, Danish skyde, Norwegian Bokmål skyte, Norwegian Nynorsk skyta, Swedish skjuta; and also, through Indo-European, with Russian кида́ть (kidátʹ), Albanian hedh (“to throw, toss”), Persian چست (čost, “quick, active”), Lithuanian skudrùs.

(+ partitive object when injuring or genitive object when killing) ampua

when the looting starts, the shooting starts

(sports) To act or achieve.
(wrestling) To lunge.

(professional wrestling) To deviate from kayfabe, either intentionally or accidentally; to actually connect with unchoreographed fighting blows and maneuvers, or speak one's mind (instead of an agreed script).


shoot

Catalan: xut

Portuguese: chuto

(professional wrestling, slang) An event that is unscripted or legitimate.


stiff

en-adj

stiff (comparative stiffer, superlative stiffest)

stiffer (comparative)
stiffest (superlative)

From Middle English stiff, stiffe, stif, from Old English stīf, from Proto-West Germanic *stīf, from Proto-Germanic *stīfaz, from Proto-Indo-European *steypós.
See also West Frisian stiif, Dutch stijf, Norwegian Bokmål stiv, German steif; also Latin stīpes, stīpō, from which English stevedore.
The expected Modern English form would be /staɪf/; /stɪf/ is probably originally from compounds such as stiffly, where the vowel was shortened before a consonant cluster.

থিৰ

of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible

(professional wrestling, of a strike) Delivered more forcefully than needed, whether intentionally or accidentally, thus causing legitimate pain to the opponent.


clean

clean (comparative cleaner, superlative cleanest)

cleaner (comparative)
cleanest (superlative)

From Middle English clene, clane, from Old English clǣne (“clean, pure”), from Proto-West Germanic *klainī (“shining, fine, splendid, tender”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *glēy- (“gleaming”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to gleam”). Cognate with Scots clean (“absolute, pure, clear, empty”) and clene, clane (“clean”), North Frisian klien (“small”), West Frisian klien (“small”), klean (“clean”), Dutch klein (“small”), Low German kleen (“small”), German klein (“small”), Swedish klen (“weak, feeble, delicate”), Icelandic klénn (“poor, feeble, petty, snug, puny, cheesy, lame”).

skoon

not having used mind-altering or mood-changing substances

Our team won, but it wasn't clean.

Free of imperfections, blemishes, or defects.

(sports, for example, professional wrestling, slang) Of a victory or performance: without any blemishes such as submission holds, disqualification, interference, etc.


blade

en-verb

blade (third-person singular simple present blades, present participle blading, simple past and past participle bladed)

blades (present singular third-person)
blading (participle present)
bladed (participle past)
bladed (past)

From Middle English blade, blad, from Old English blæd (“leaf”), from Proto-West Germanic *blad, from Proto-Germanic *bladą, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰl̥h₃-o-to-m, from *bʰleh₃- (“to thrive, bloom”).
See also West Frisian bled, Dutch blad, German Blatt, Danish blad, Irish bláth (“flower”), Welsh blodyn (“flower”), Tocharian A pält, Tocharian B pilta (“leaf”), Albanian fletë (“leaf”). Similar usage in German Sägeblatt (“saw blade”, literally “saw leaf”). Doublet of blat. More at blow.

m+

(transitive, professional wrestling, slang) To cut a person (usually oneself) so as to provoke bleeding.


rough

en-verb

rough (third-person singular simple present roughs, present participle roughing, simple past and past participle roughed)

roughs (present singular third-person)
roughing (participle present)
roughed (participle past)
roughed (past)
ruff (alternative pronunciation-spelling)

From Middle English rough, roughe, roȝe, row, rou, ru, ruȝ, ruh, from Old English rūg, rūh, from Proto-Germanic *rūhaz.
Cognate with Scots ruch, rouch (“rough”), Saterland Frisian ruuch, rouch (“rough”), West Frisian rûch (“rough”), Low German ruuch (“rough”), Dutch ruig (“rough”), German rau(h) (“rough”), Danish ru (“uneven on the surface, "rough", "rugged"”).

cog

[…] roughing is not a part of the sport, and will not be tolerated. Referees will not permit unfair practices that may cause injury to a contestant, and are held strictly responsible for enforcing these rules.

1938, California. State Athletic Commission, Rules, Regulations and Law Regulating Boxing and Wrestling (page 42)

(boxing, wrestling, intransitive) To break the rules by being excessively violent.


push

en-noun

push (countable and uncountable, plural pushes)

From Middle English pushen, poshen, posson, borrowed from Middle French pousser (Modern French pousser) from Old French poulser, from Latin pulsare (“to beat, strike”), frequentative of pellere (past participle pulsus). Doublet of pulsate and pulse (verb). Partly displaced native Old English sċūfan, whence Modern English shove.

(professional wrestling slang) An attempt to give momentum to a wrestler's career in the form of victories and/or more screen time.


stroke

The noun is derived from Middle English strok, stroke (“blow from a weapon, cut”), from Old English strāc, from Proto-West Germanic *straik, from Proto-Germanic *straikaz (“stroke”), from Proto-Indo-European *streyg- (“to rub, stroke; to shear; to strike”).
Sense 3.6.2.2 (“the oblique, slash, or virgule (‘/’)”) is a contraction of oblique stroke, a variant of oblique which was originally used in telegraphy.
The verb is derived from the noun.
Cognates
* German Streich (“stroke”)
* Middle Low German strēk (“stroke, trick, prank”)
* Scots strak, strake, straik (“blow, stroke”)

isku

one of a series of beats or movements against a resisting medium, by means of which movement through or upon it is accomplished

ход

single movement or thrust of a part (such as a piston) of a machine that moves back and forth; length of this movement

(professional wrestling) Backstage influence.

pancada

(professional wrestling) backstage influence


dojo

dojos (plural)
dojo (plural)
dōjō (alternative)

→ Russian: додзё (dodzjó)

Borrowed from Japanese 道場 (dōjō, literally “place of the ways”). Doublet of dojang.

bor

[ˈdəʊ̯d͡ʒəʊ̯]

/ˈdoʊˌd͡ʒoʊ/

[ˈdoʊ̯ˌd͡ʒoʊ̯]

In this class of truck it’s all about torque, and the Hilux has that in spades. [...] Its traction control stamps the ground with the immovable authority of a sumo wrestler entering the dojo.

2017 September 3, Martin Love, “Toyota Hilux pick-up review: ‘A work horse, not a fashion pony’”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2018-10-05:

Women [...] considered "impure", are not allowed on the dojo, circular location of the fight considered a sacred place. The inflexibility of the sumo world on this point had caused a scandal last year when women doctors and nurses had come to the dojo to help an elected official feeling uncomfortable during a speech at a tournament. The sumo association had to present "sincere apologies" for asking them to come down as soon as possible.

2019 January 16, “Sumo: Kisenosato, only current yokozuna born in Japan, retires”, in Pakistan Today, Lahore: Arif Nizami, →ISSN, →OCLC:

Most stables are off-limits but Hakkaku's allows paying guests accompanied by a guide to watch a morning training session. Because sumo competitions are held just six times a year, it's a great way for visitors to experience this uniquely Japanese phenomenon. [...] Guests silently shuffle into the small dojo to sit or kneel just feet from where the enormous fighters are practising.

2019 July 27, Declan McVeigh, “Hakkaku stable: How to watch Tokyo’s sumo stars train live”, in The National, Abu Dhabi: International Media Investments, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2019-07-29:

Novak Djokovic had fought against other sumo players in a dojo before he started Japan Open, but the tennis champion was clearly out of his league. [...] "I had a slight weight deficit but I was very close to moving the guy an inch. They say they eat at least 10.000 calories a day to be strong and big. Don't know if I can match that to be honest", Nole commented on his poor performance in the dojo.

2019 October 2, Claudiu Pop, “Djokovic Tried Sumo Wrestling before Japan Open, but Failed to Impress”, in Tennis World, archived from the original on 2019-10-08:

(sumo) Synonym of dohyo (“the ring in which a sumo wrestling match is held”).


squash

en-noun

squash (countable and uncountable, plural squashes)

→ Catalan: esquaix

→ Czech: squash

→ Dutch: kwast

Afrikaans: kwas

→ Finnish: squash

→ French: squash

→ Japanese: スカッシュ (sukasshu)

→ Korean: 스쿼시 (seukwosi)

→ Norwegian Bokmål: squash

→ Norwegian Nynorsk: squash

→ Polish: squash

→ Portuguese: squash

→ Russian: сквош (skvoš)

→ Swedish: squash

From Middle English squachen, squatchen, from Old French esquacher, escachier, from Vulgar Latin *excoāctiāre, from Latin ex + coāctāre. Probably influenced by Middle English quashen, quassen, from Old French esquasser, escasser (“to crush, shatter, destroy, break”), from Vulgar Latin *exquassare, from Latin ex- + quassare (“to shatter”) (see quash).

It was one of the most shocking WWE title matches ever witnessed, and effectively a 20-minute squash match as Brock Lesnar "conquered" his opponent.

Orr, James (2014 August 18) “WWE SummerSlam 2014: How Twitter reacted to John Cena vs Brock Lesnar”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), The Independent, retrieved 2015-07-30

(slang, professional wrestling) An extremely one-sided, usually short, match.


mark

marks (plural)
marke (alternative obsolete)
merk (alternative obsolete)
marc (alternative obsolete)

→ Bengali: মার্কা (marka)

→ Cantonese: 嘜 /唛 (mak¹, maak¹)

desc

→ Shanghainese: 麥克麥克 /麦克麦克 (⁸maq-kheq₇-maq₈-kheq₇)

→ Japanese: マーク (māku)

→ Korean: 마크 (makeu)

From Middle English mark, merk, merke, from Old English mearc (“mark, sign, line of division; standard; boundary, limit, term, border; defined area, district, province”), from Proto-West Germanic *marku, from Proto-Germanic *markō (“boundary; boundary marker”), from Proto-Indo-European *mórǵs (“edge, boundary, border”).
Compare march.
Cognates
* Dutch mark, merk (“mark, brand”)
* German Mark (“mark; borderland”), Marke (“mark, brand”)
* Swedish mark (“mark, land, territory”)
* Icelandic mark (“mark, sign”)
* Latin margo (“edge, margin”)
* Persian مرز (marz, “limit, boundary”)
* Sanskrit मर्या (maryā, “limit, mark, boundary”), मार्ग (mārga, “mark, section”).

cog

(professional wrestling slang) Condescending label of a wrestling fan who refuses to believe that pro wrestling is predetermined and/or choreographed.


splash

Probably an alteration of plash (compare spatter, spill for the initial s-).

(wrestling) A body press; a move where the wrestler jumps forward from a raised platform such as the top turnbuckle, landing stomach first across an opponent lying on the ground below.


no holds barred

a no holds barred match

(wrestling) Without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do.

ilman kiellettyjä otteita

in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do


pop

en-noun

pop (countable and uncountable, plural pops)

From Middle English pop, poppe (“a blow; strike; buffet”) (> Middle English poppen (“to strike; thrust”, verb)), of onomatopoeic origin – used to describe the sound, or short, sharp actions. The physics sense is part of a facetious sequence "snap, crackle, pop", after the mascots of Rice Krispies cereal.

cog

(professional wrestling slang) A (usually very) loud audience reaction.


heat

en-noun

heat (countable and uncountable, plural heats)

From Middle English hete, from Old English hǣtu, from Proto-West Germanic *haitī, from Proto-Germanic *haitį̄ (“heat”), from Proto-Indo-European *keHy- (“heat; hot”). Cognate with Scots hete (“heat”), North Frisian hiet (“heat”), Old High German heizī (“heat”). Related also to Dutch hitte (“heat”), German Hitze (“heat”), Swedish hetta (“heat”), Icelandic hiti (“heat”).

op hitte

condition where a mammal is aroused sexually or where it is especially fertile

(professional wrestling slang) A negative reaction from the audience, especially as a heel (or bad character), or in general.


turn

en-verb

turn (third-person singular simple present turns, present participle turning, simple past and past participle turned or (obsolete) turnt)

turns (present singular third-person)
turning (participle present)
turned (participle past)
turned (past)
turnt (obsolete participle past)
turnt (obsolete past)
turn (infinitive)
turn (first-person present singular)
turned (first-person past singular)
turn (present second-person singular)
turnest (archaic present second-person singular)
turned (past second-person singular)
turnedst (archaic past second-person singular)
turns (present singular third-person)
turneth (archaic present singular third-person)
turned (past singular third-person)
turn (plural present)
turned (past plural)
turn (present subjunctive)
turned (past subjunctive)
turn (imperative present)
turning (participle present)
turned (participle past)
turnt (archaic participle past)

From Middle English turnen, from Old English turnian, tyrnan (“to turn, rotate, revolve”) and Old French torner (“to turn”), both from Latin tornāre (“to round off, turn in a lathe”), from tornus (“lathe”), from Ancient Greek τόρνος (tórnos, “turning-lathe: a tool used for making circles”), from Proto-Indo-European *terh₁- (“to rub, rub by turning, turn, twist, bore”). Cognate with Old English þrāwan (“to turn, twist, wind”), whence English throw. Displaced native Middle English wenden from Old English wendan (see wend), and Middle English trenden from Old English trendan (see trend), among several other terms.

lyödä kierre

in cricket, make the ball move sideways when it bounces

kiertää

of a cricket ball, move sideways when it bounces

(intransitive or transitive) To change condition or attitude.

(professional wrestling) To change personalities, such as from being a face (good guy) to heel (bad guy) or vice versa.


promo

(professional wrestling slang) an interview or monologue intended to promote a character or an upcoming match.


bury

en-verb

bury (third-person singular simple present buries, present participle burying, simple past and past participle buried)

buries (present singular third-person)
burying (participle present)
buried (participle past)
buried (past)

Middle English burien, berien, from Old English byrġan, from Proto-West Germanic *burgijan, from Proto-Germanic *burgijaną (“to keep safe”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰergʰ- (“to defend, protect”).
Cognate with Icelandic byrgja (“to cover, shut; to hold in”); West Frisian bergje (“to keep”), German bergen (“to save/rescue something”), Danish bjerge (“to save/rescue something or somebody”); also Eastern Lithuanian bir̃ginti (“to save, spare”), Russian бере́чь (beréčʹ, “to spare”), Ossetian ӕмбӕрзын (æmbærzyn, “to cover”).
The spelling with ⟨u⟩ represents the pronunciation of the West Midland and Southern dialects, while the Modern English pronunciation with /ɛ/ is from the Kentish dialects.

دَفَنَ

to hide or conceal as if by covering with earth

(professional wrestling slang) To ruin the image or character of another wrestler; usually by embarrassing or defeating them in dominating fashion.


job

en-verb

job (third-person singular simple present jobs, present participle jobbing, simple past and past participle jobbed)

jobs (present singular third-person)
jobbing (participle present)
jobbed (participle past)
jobbed (past)

From the phrase jobbe of work (“piece of work”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from a variant of Middle English gobbe (“mass, lump”); or perhaps related to Middle English jobben (“to jab, thrust, peck”), or Middle English choppe (“piece, bargain”). More at gob, jab, chop.

der

(intransitive, professional wrestling slang) To take the loss, usually in a demeaning or submissive manner.


spear

From Middle English spere, sperre, spear, from Old English spere, from Proto-West Germanic *speru, from Proto-Germanic *speru, from Proto-Indo-European *sperH-.
Cognates
See also West Frisian spear, Dutch speer, German Speer, Old Norse spjǫr, *sparrô, Middle Dutch sparre (“rafter”), Old Norse sparri (“spar, rafter”), sperra (“rafter, beam”); also Latin sparus (“short spear”), Albanian ferrë (“thorn, thornbush”).

(wrestling) In professional wrestling, a running tackle in which the wrestler's shoulder is driven into the opponent's midsection.


strap

en-noun

strap (countable and uncountable, plural straps)

straps (plural)
strop (alternative)
strope (alternative)

→ Japanese: ストラップ (sutorappu)

From a variant of earlier strope (“loop on a harness”), from Middle English strope, stroppe, from Late Old English strop, stropp (“a band, thong, strap; oar-thong”) and Old French estrope (“strap, loop on a harness”), both from Latin stroppus, struppus (“strap”), from Ancient Greek στρόφος (stróphos, “rope”) (compare strophe), from στρέφω (stréphō, “to twist”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *strebʰ- (compare Proto-West Germanic *stroppōn (“to twist, writhe”)). Cognate with Scots strap, strop (“strap, band, thong”), Dutch strop (“noose, strop, loop”), Low German Strop (“strap”), German Struppe, Strüppe, Strippe (“string, cord”), Danish strop (“strap”), Swedish stropp (“strap, loop”).

lak

a long, narrow, pliable strip of leather, cloth, or the like

kawerapa

part of a bag that goes over the shoulder

ивица

a narrow strip of anything, as of iron or brass

David Arquette was given the belt because he's a celebrity. Period. I wasn't that upset about it because even the on-air product treated it as laughable. It was a "fluke" that Arquette managed to grab the strap, and he held it for less than a week. But there was no point in it....that I do agree with.

2001 January 31, Greg Stinson, “WWF fans actually know the WWF sucks”, in rec.sport.pro-wrestling (Usenet), message-ID <KTUd6.209692$iy3.50200104@news1.rdc1.tn.home.com>:

During 2002, Triple H began this run of title defences of the Big Gold Belt. He'd basically been given the strap earlier in the month and there was a feeling he didn't deserve it.

2015, Arnold Furious, “Unforgiven 2002”, in The Complete WWE Guide Volume #6, →ISBN, page 60:

When people like me were deserting the WWE during the championship reign of JBL, "The Wrestling God", Vince didn't take the strap off of him. He's certainly not going to do anything because of this little piffle.

2017 April 11, Jason Todd!!!, “if multiple people are coming forth saying jbl harassed them, why doesn't vince fire his ass?”, in rec.sport.pro-wrestling (Usenet), message-ID <5ad20526-36c9-4dac-89ba-df011e3d48f9@googlegroups.com>:

(slang, professional wrestling, with "the") A championship belt, or by extension, the title.


over

From Middle English over, from Old English ofer, from Proto-West Germanic *obar, from Proto-Germanic *uber (“over”), from Proto-Indo-European *upér, related to *upó.
Akin to Scots ower, West Frisian oer, Dutch over, Low German over, över, German ober, über, Danish over, Norwegian over, Swedish över, Icelandic yfir, Faroese yvir, Gothic 𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂 (ufar), Latin super, Ancient Greek ὑπέρ (hupér), Albanian upri (“group of peasants”), Sanskrit उपरि (upári).
Doublet of uber, super, and hyper.

(professional wrestling slang) Of a wrestler: generating a reaction from fans.


stunner

(professional wrestling) A professional wrestling maneuver in which an attacking wrestler applies a facelock to an opponent and falls to a seated position, forcing the opponent's jaw or neck to drop on the attacker's shoulder.


bulldog

→ French: bouledogue

→ German: Bulldogge

→ Portuguese: buldogue

From bull + dog, in reference to bullbaiting.

(professional wrestling) Any move in which the wrestler grabs an opponent's head and jumps forward, so that the wrestler lands, often in a sitting position, and drives the opponent's face into the mat.


grapevine

grapevines (plural)
grape vine (alternative)
grape-vine (alternative)


grapevine

en-verb

grapevine (third-person singular simple present grapevines, present participle grapevining, simple past and past participle grapevined)

grapevines (present singular third-person)
grapevining (participle present)
grapevined (participle past)
grapevined (past)
grape vine (alternative)
grape-vine (alternative)

From the top he grapevined his leg around Tibbits' leg and planted his elbow in his opponent's opposite side.

2007, Steve Wolfe, Call Us Champions: More Alaska Wrestling Stories:

The Low Mount is the position where your hips are tight to your opponent's and your legs are usually grapevined or locked underneath his.

2008, Saulo Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University:

So now she's grapevined me, I can't straighten my legs, which means I can't generate the momentum I need to bridge.

2022, David Young, Sean Black, The Ground Is My Ocean:

(transitive, wrestling) To restrain in a leglock.


hip

hip (third-person singular simple present hips, present participle hipping, simple past and past participle hipped)

hips (present singular third-person)
hipping (participle present)
hipped (participle past)
hipped (past)

From Middle English hipe, hupe, from Old English hype, from Proto-Germanic *hupiz (compare Dutch heup, Low German Huop, German Hüfte), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱewb- (compare Welsh cysgu (“to sleep”), Latin cubāre (“to lie”), Ancient Greek κύβος (kúbos, “hollow in the hips”), Albanian sup (“shoulder”), Sanskrit शुप्ति (śúpti, “shoulder”)), from *ḱew- (“to bend”). More at high. The sense "drug addict" derives from addicts lying on their hips while using certain drugs such as opium.

cog

(wrestling) To throw (one's adversary) over one's hip ("cross-buttock").


click

From Middle English cleken, a variant of clechen (“to grab”), perhaps from Old English *clēċan, *clǣċan, a byform of clyċċan (“to clutch”). More at clutch.

inside click; outside click; cross click


feud

feuds (plural)
fead (alternative)
feaud (alternative)
fede (alternative)
feood (alternative)
fewd (alternative)
fewde (alternative)
fuide (alternative)
fude (alternative)

Oxford English Dictionary
Survey of English Dialects

Inherited from Northern Middle English fede, feide, from Old French faide, feide, fede, from Proto-West Germanic *faihiþu (“hatred, enmity”) (corresponding to foe + -th), from Proto-Indo-European *peyḱ- (“hostile”).
Cognate to Old English fǣhþ, fǣhþu, fǣhþo (“hostility, enmity, violence, revenge, vendetta”), German Fehde, and Dutch vete (“feud”) (directly inherited from Proto-West Germanic) alongside Danish fejde (“feud, enmity, hostility, war”) and Swedish fejd (“feud, controversy, quarrel, strife”) (borrowed from Middle Low German).

der

(professional wrestling) A staged rivalry between wrestlers.


stable

From Middle English stable, borrowed from Anglo-Norman stable, singular derived from the plural Latin stab(u)la (“dwellings, stables”).

close the stable door after the horse has been stolen

close the stable door after the horse has bolted

lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen

lock the stable door after the horse has bolted

shut the stable door after the horse has bolted

(sumo) An organization of sumo wrestlers who live and train together.

Paul, who signed with WWE in late June, appeared in a segment with Reigns' stable, the Bloodline, on Friday's episode of SmackDown after making comments earlier in the week regarding a potential match with the Tribal Chief.

2022 September 17, Thomas Kika, “WWE's Logan Paul Confronts Roman Reigns Amid Rumors of Major Title Bout”, in Newsweek:

(professional wrestling) A group of wrestlers who support each other within a wrestling storyline.


cutter

→ Catalan: cúter

→ Korean: 커터 (keoteo)

From Middle English cutter, cuttere, kutter. By surface analysis, cut + -er.

(wrestling) A three-quarters facelock bulldog move in which the attacker drives the opponent's head into the mat while falling onto their back.


valet

Borrowed from Middle French valet, from Old French vaslet, from Medieval Latin *vassellittus, diminutive of Late Latin vassallus (“manservant, domestic, retainer”), from vassus (“servant”), from Gaulish *wassos (“young man, squire”), from Proto-Celtic *wastos (“servant”) (compare Old Irish foss and Welsh gwas). Doublet of varlet.

(professional wrestling) A female performer in professional wrestling, acting as either a manager or personal chaperone; often used to attract and titillate male members of the audience.

خادمَة

a female performer in professional wrestling


hyper

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-hyper.wav

Mason of Blencogo was a strong fellow, with no great science or action, and how he disposed of Nichol of Bothel, who was one of the best hypers of the day, puzzled not a few.

1868, The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Review:


freestyle

en-noun

freestyle (countable and uncountable, plural freestyles)

freestyles (plural)
free-style (alternative)

自由式

(sports) A sports event where competitors can choose their own method of participation.

(wrestling) A style of wrestling in which any non-injurious holds are permitted.


pin down

en-verb

pin down (third-person singular simple present pins down, present participle pinning down, simple past and past participle pinned down)

pins down (present singular third-person)
pinning down (participle present)
pinned down (participle past)
pinned down (past)

(wrestling) To hold the opponent back-first so both his or her shoulders touch the mat or ground.


schoolgirl

schoolgirl (third-person singular simple present schoolgirls, present participle schoolgirling, simple past and past participle schoolgirled)

schoolgirls (present singular third-person)
schoolgirling (participle present)
schoolgirled (participle past)
schoolgirled (past)

Victoria & Nidia beat Stratus & Kim in 3:45 when Victoria schoolgirled Kim.

2004, Wrestling Observer Newsletter, page 57:

She tags herself in only to get schoolgirled for the pin.

2017, James Dixon, Arnold Furious, Bob Dahlstrom, The Raw Files: 2001, page 121:

(transitive, wrestling, rare) To restrain in a schoolgirl pin.


wrestler

From Middle English wrastlere, equivalent to wrestle + -er.

it isn't easy to avoid all the wrestler's holds.

2005, Plato, translated by Lesley Brown, Sophist, page 231c:


submit

submit (third-person singular simple present submits, present participle submitting, simple past and past participle submitted)

submits (present singular third-person)
submitting (participle present)
submitted (participle past)
submitted (past)

From Middle English submitten, borrowed from Latin submittere, infinitive of submittō (“place under, yield”), from sub (“under, from below, up”) + mitto (“to send”). Compare upsend.

[Ronda] Rousey, a former U.S. Olympian in Judo, caps off a perfect year in which she submitted Liz Carmouche in the first-ever UFC female fight and coached opposite [Miesha] Tate in "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series.

2013 December 28, Brett Okamoto, “Ronda Rousey wins with arm bar”, in ESPN, retrieved 2014-01-06:

It was also the first time Goldberg has been submitted, enhancing Reigns even more than he already has been over the last two years.

2022 February 19, Erik Beaston, “WWE Elimination Chamber 2022 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights”, in Bleacher Report, retrieved 2022-02-22:

(transitive, mixed martial arts, professional wrestling) To win a fight against (an opponent) by submission.


bear hug

(wrestling) A hold with the arms around the opponent.


sit out

sit out (third-person singular simple present sits out, present participle sitting out, simple past and past participle sat out)

sits out (present singular third-person)
sitting out (participle present)
sat out (participle past)
sat out (past)

(wrestling) To escape a hold while face down by swinging one's legs around into the sitting position.


catch-as-catch-can

In Lancashire and the north of Ireland, the catch-hold or catch-as-catch-can system still finds favour.

1980, Walter Armstrong, Wrestling, page x:

(wrestling) Relating to catch wrestling, a folk style of wrestling with minimal restrictions.


tights

→ Japanese: タイツ (taitsu)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-tights.wav

(wrestling) A garment, similar to briefs, worn chiefly by professional wrestlers.


clinch

→ Czech: klinč

→ German: Clinch

→ French: clinch

→ Portuguese: clinche

→ Russian: клинч (klinč)

→ Serbo-Croatian: klȉnč

→ Polish: klincz

→ Swedish: klinch

(wrestling, combat sports) The act of one or both fighters holding onto the other to prevent being hit or engage in standup grappling.


luchador

en-noun

luchador (plural luchadors or luchadores)

(professional wrestling) A Mexican professional wrestler, frequently (but not always) masked.


mawashi

From Japanese 廻し or 回し (mawashi), same meaning.

(sumo) The belt worn by rikishi during training and in competition


nelson

Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Nelson (cricket)
Nelson hold

Cricket sense: origin disputed; supposedly from the belief that Lord Nelson had one eye, one arm and one leg.
Wrestling sense: Back-formation from full nelson.

(wrestling) A wrestling hold in which a wrestler's arm is locked behind their back.


sprawl

en-verb

sprawl (third-person singular simple present sprawls, present participle sprawling, simple past and past participle sprawled)

sprawls (present singular third-person)
sprawling (participle present)
sprawled (participle past)
sprawled (past)

From Middle English spraulen, from Old English spreawlian, ultimately through a Proto-Germanic form cognate with *spreutaną (“to sprout”) from Proto-Indo-European *sper- (“to strew”). Compare North Frisian spraweli.

(wrestling, martial arts) To scoot the legs backwards, so as to land on the upper back of an opponent attempting a takedown.


sprawl

en-noun

sprawl (countable and uncountable, plural sprawls)

(wrestling, martial arts) A defensive technique that is done in response to certain takedown attempts, where one scoots the legs backwards so as to land on the upper back of the opponent.


sleeper

From Middle English sleper, equivalent to sleep + -er.

(martial arts, wrestling) A sleeper hold.


sharpshooter

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-sharpshooter.wav

sharp + shooter, a calque of German Scharfschütze.

(professional wrestling) A submission hold characterized by one wrestler twisting the other's legs upwards while sitting on their back.


isu

(sumo) An individual seat in the loft-like balcony of a sumo arena.


heya

(sumo) the so-called "stable" of rikishi who train under the instruction of a particular shisho; the place where this group lives and trains


suplex

Perhaps related to the suplay of classical wrestling, if not further inspired by super; also see -ex. Another explanation could be from sub + plecto, (meaning essentially I turn, twist, combine, or "braid" from under) which could ultimately reduce into English as suplex due to it being a novel innovation.

(professional wrestling) A wrestling move in which the wrestler picks up their opponent off the ground (or mat) and then, using a large portion of their own body weight, drives the opponent down on the mat by throwing them over their center of gravity, usually arching their back.


suplex

en-verb

suplex (third-person singular simple present suplexes, present participle suplexing, simple past and past participle suplexed)

suplexes (present singular third-person)
suplexing (participle present)
suplexed (participle past)
suplexed (past)

(transitive, professional wrestling) To subject to this maneuver.


anklelock

(wrestling) A hold in professional wrestling, a leglock applied to any of the joints in the ankle.


tweener

There are old-school wrestlers, submission wrestlers, hardcore wrestlers, hillbilly wrestlers, masked Mexican lucha libre wrestlers, shoot wrestlers, and wrestlers who just talk a lot and never actually wrestle. There are babyfaces (good guys), heels (bad guys), ’tweeners, and crossovers.

2006, Thomas Hackett, Slaphappy: Pride, Prejudice, and Professional Wrestling, New York, NY: HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 21:

When Crockett hit TBS, [Ric] Flair was a babyface within its territory, but a heel in the areas he visited as champion, so it compromised, and on TBS, he became a “tweener” who took on all comers.

2015 May, David Bixenspan, “The Real World Champion”, in Fighting Spirit Magazine, number 118, Bournemouth: Uncooked Media Ltd, →ISSN, page 53:

professional wrestler
professional wrestler

(informal) A person or thing that is between two categories, classes or age groups.

(professional wrestling, slang) A professional wrestler who is neutral or morally ambiguous; neither a face nor a heel, or showing no favoritism to either allegiance.


cauliflower ear

en-noun

cauliflower ear (plural cauliflower ears)

A huge man with a notable cauliflower ear was peering into the car, a scowl of suspicion upon his face.

1928 February 25 – March 3, Arthur Conan Doyle, “When the World Screamed”, in The Professor Challenger Stories […], London: John Murray, […], published [1952], →OCLC, page 560:

Having gone in a lot for boxing from his earliest years, he had the cauliflower ear of which I had spoken to Aunt Dahlia and in addition to this a nose which some hidden hand had knocked slightly out of the straight.

1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter III, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:

(boxing, wrestling, sports, pathology) An ear swollen and deformed by repeated blows, common among boxers and rugby players.


kesho-mawashi

Borrowed from Japanese 化粧廻し (“ornamental belt”).

(sumo) A decorative mawashi worn by a sekitori during the ring-entering ceremony.


yokozuna

From Japanese 横綱(よこづな) (yokozuna, “wide rope”), the symbol of their rank worn about the waist.

A yokozuna is the very highest rank in sumo – “just like Mameha's position in Gion,” as Nobu explained it to me. I had no reason to doubt him; but if Mameha ever took half as much time entering a party as these yokozuna took entering the ring, she'd certainly never be invited back.

1997, Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha, Vintage, page 202:

(sumo) The highest rank of sumo wrestler, above ozeki; grand champion.

What mattered most was that, from the very top of the Nihon Sumo Kyōkai, Yokozuna Akebono had been shown respect.

2006, Mark Panek, Gaijin Yokozuna: A Biography of Chad Rowan, page 265:

(sumo) A person holding the rank, either competing at the rank or retired after having achieved it.


ozeki

ozekis (plural)
ozeki (plural)
ōzeki (alternative)

Borrowed from Japanese 大関(おおぜき) (ōzeki).

Terunofuji is the first in 64 years to be promoted to ozeki after spending two tournaments as a komusubi or sekiwake and the first since the season went to six meets in 1958.

2015 May 27, “Terunofuji promoted to ozeki after victory”, in Japan Times, archived from the original on 2018-05-09:

Former ozeki Hokutenyu, who held sumo’s second-highest rank for 44 tournaments […] died of kidney cancer at a Tokyo hospital on Friday at the age of 45.

2006 June 25, “Former ozeki Hokutenyu dies at 45”, in Japan Times:

(sumo) A sumo wrestler ranking below yokozuna and above sekiwake; champion.


sekiwake

The highest rank attainable is yokozuna, or grand champion. […] After him in standing come the ozekis, or champions; the sekiwakes, or junior champions; […]

1965, Myra Waldo, “Japan”, in Travel Guide to the Orient and the Pacific, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Collier-Macmillan Limited, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 157:

Are there special standards for promotion to sekiwake or komusubi? No. The same standards apply as for promotion within the maegashira ranks.

2018, “Standards for Sumo ranking chart”, in Ozumo.com, archived from the original on 2018-04-17:

Sekiwake Tochinoshin (3-2) picked up a much-needed win against komusubi Chiyotairyu (1-4) after suffering his second loss the previous day.

2018 March 15, “Kakuryu makes most of second opportunity against Takarafuji”, in Japan Times, archived from the original on 2018-04-21:

(sumo) A sumo wrestler ranked below ozeki and above komusubi.


komusubi

[…] Kitani and Go were still only like the komusubi juniors in sumo program rankings. […] In fact, their first ten-game match was described merely as the battle of the komusubis.

2009, John Fairbairn, “Prelude to the Match”, in Kamakura, 2nd edition (2011), Richmond, Va.: Slate & Shell, →ISBN, page 25, column 2:

(sumo) A sumo wrestler of the lowest sanyaku rank, below sekiwake and above maegashira.


maegashira

maegashira (plural maegashira or maegashiras)

maegashira (plural)
maegashiras (plural)

Several weeks before each grand tournament, the list of wrestlers is announced. They are divided into two sides - east and west. For each side there are 13 maegashiras, the lowest rank in the tournament.

1988 January 19, Hirotaka Yamashiro, “From sumo wrestling to women’s basketball Japan’s dedication and discipline are hard to beat”, in Tim Currie, Margie Philp, editors, Queen’s Journal, volume 115, number 26, Kingston, Ont.: Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University Inc., →OCLC, page 18, column 3:

“It wasn’t the kind of sumo I was aiming for, but it is a maegashira’s job to try and beat ozeki so in that sense I have got the job done,” said Okinoumi.

2016 March 17, “Okinoumi ends Kotoshogiku’s unbeaten start at Spring Basho”, in Japan Times, archived from the original on 2019-01-07:

(sumo) The highest salaried rank of sumo wrestler, below komusubi and above juryo; the lowest rank in the makuuchi division.


juryo

juryo (plural)
juryos (plural)
jūryō (alternative)

Borrowed from Japanese 十両(じゅうりょう) (jūryō, “ten ryō”), from Middle Chinese 十 (dʒip, “ten”) + 兩 (ljáng, “tael”).

ja-r

十両(じゅうりょう) (jūryō, “ten ryō”)

(sumo) The second highest division in sumo wrestling, below makuuchi and above makushita; rikishi at this point receive a salary.

Jesse won promotion into what is called the juryo division of sumo and to the title of “sekitori” on the basis of his showing at the New Year’s Sumo Tournament in Tokyo, where he compiled a respectable 5-2 showing, including wins over two former juryos.

1967 June, “Jesse Wins His Girdle”, in Black Belt, volume V, number 6, Los Angeles, Calif.: Black Belt, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 12:

The monthly pay for a yokozuna in the mid-1970s was only ¥373,000, while an ozeki received ¥294,700; a sekiwake or komusubi, ¥200,300; a maegashira, ¥137, 600; and a juryo, ¥114,500.

1979, P[atricia] L. Cuyler, “Wages”, in Sumo: From Rite to Sport, New York, N.Y.; Tokyo: John Weatherhill, Inc., →ISBN, “Sumo Today” section, chapter 5 (Wrestlers and Stables), page 157:

Yokozuna fight each other at the end of the tournament. Lower-division wrestlers fight a total of seven matches per tournament; juryo and makuuchi fight fifteen.

1997, Mina Hall, “Honbasho: Tournaments”, in The Big Book of Sumo: History, Practice, Ritual, Fight, Berkeley, Calif.: Stone Bridge Press, →ISBN, page 53:


makuuchi

Japanese 幕内 (maku-uchi まくうち, "inside the curtain"), from Middle Chinese 幕 (mak "curtain", "covering") + Japanese うち (uchi "inside").

(sumo) The highest division of sumo wrestling, above juryo, comprising the yokozuna, ozeki, sekiwake, komusubi and maegashira ranks.


sanyaku

Borrowed from Japanese 三役, literally "three ranks".

(sumo) Any of the three highest ranks of sumo wrestler: komusubi, sekiwake and ozeki, together with the honorary title of yokozuna.


makushita

(sumo) The third highest division of professional sumo wrestling, below juryo; the lowest division at which a salary is paid.


dohyo

dohyo (plural)
dohyos (plural)
dohyō (alternative)

Borrowed from Japanese 土(ど)俵(ひょう) (dohyō).

Sumo ’bots also tend to have very low ground clearance since they operate on dohyos, which have a very smooth rubberized running surface; […]

2000 June, Robert Nansel, “Amateur Robotics Notebook: Robot City, USA”, in Nuts & Volts, volume 21, number 6, Corona, Calif.: T & L Publications, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 53, column 1:

(sumo) The ring, made of compacted clay, in which a sumo wrestling match is held.


dohyo-iri

(sumo) a ring-entering ceremony performed by rikishi, in the juryo and higher divisions, upon entering the dohyo


rikishi

From Japanese 力士(りきし) (rikishi), from Middle Chinese 力士 (lik-dʐí), from Old Chinese 力士 (*k.rək m-s-rəʔ, “man of great strength”), from 力 (*rɯɡ, “strength”) + 士 (*zrɯʔ, “man; soldier”).


dohyo matsuri

(sumo) A Shinto ceremony in which the dohyo is purified and blessed prior to each basho.


basho

From Japanese 場所(ばしょ) (basho), short form of 本場所(ほんばしょ) (honbasho, “honbasho”).

Two basho later, I was at sekiwake, the third-highest rank in sumo.

1998, Matsumoto Toshimichi, editor, Japan Quarterly, volume 45, Asahi Shimbun Publishing Co., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 25:


honbasho

Although there are six two-week top-tier tournaments, or honbasho, every year, Kotoshogiku’s victory was the first for a Japanese wrestler in 10 years.

2016 January 27, Victor Mather, “Japanese End Drought in Sumo Wrestling, Their National Sport”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2016-01-27:

(sumo) Any of the six official sumo tournaments.


akeni

(sumo) A box used by sekitori to store their personal items.


sekitori

Sekitoris wrestle every one of the 15 days of a basho.

1977, Larry Winderbaum, “Sekitori”, in The Martial Arts Encyclopedia, Washington, D.C.: INSCAPE, →ISBN, page 143, column 1:

(sumo) A rikishi, of rank juryo and above, who draws a salary.


amasumo

From Japanese アマ相撲 (ama-sumō); ama is a shortening of English amateur.


ani-deshi

(sumo) The senior rikishi in a particular heya.


oyakata

For a foreigner like Jesse, becoming an oyakata to pave the way to open a heya had its obstacles.

1992, Philbert Ono, “A Visit to Azumazeki-beya (Part 1)”, in Eye-Ai, Tokyo: Riverfield, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 4:

(sumo) A retired rikishi who has reached a certain standing and either becomes a shisho or helps train in others' heya.


banzuke

(sumo) the document, published six times a year, before each basho, showing the official rankings of all rikishi


jungyo

Borrowed from Japanese 巡業 (じゅんぎょう, jungyō), from Middle Chinese 巡 (zwin, “to make rounds, tour”) + 業 (ngjæp, “work”).

ja-l/helper

巡業 (じゅんぎょう, jungyō)

ja-l

巡業 (じゅんぎょう, jungyō)

der

(sumo) A regional tour, undertaken between honbashos, during which the rikishi give exhibition matches.


jun-yusho

(sumo) The second-place position, behind yusho, at the end of a basho; often shared by more than one rikishi.


yusho

From Japanese 優勝 (“victory, championship”).

(sumo) The top-ranking position at the end of a basho; the championship.


bintsuke

(sumo) A wax, derived from soy, used in cosmetics, and to groom the topknot of a sekitori.


chankonabe

Borrowed from Japanese ちゃんこ鍋 (chankonabe).

(sumo) The staple diet of rikishi: a stew of meat, seafood and vegetables.


chikara gami

From Japanese 力紙 (chikara-gami, “strength paper”).

bor

(sumo) Sheets of paper used by rikishi to wipe their lips after the ritual cleansing with chikara mizu.


chikara mizu

From Japanese 力水 (chikara mizu, “strength water”).

(sumo) Water used by rikishi to ritually cleanse the mouth before a match.


daigappei

(sumo) a jungyo tour that features all the rikishi of jonidan rank or higher


jonidan

(sumo) The division of sumo wrestlers above jonokuchi and below sandanme, containing the highest number of rikishi.


jonokuchi

(sumo) A member of the lowest division of sumo wrestlers (below jonidan) to which new recruits are promoted after their first tournament.


sandanme

(sumo) the division of sumo wrestlers above jonidan and below makushita


danpatsushiki

Borrowed from Japanese 断髪式 (danpatsushiki).

(sumo) The ceremony in which the topknot of a retiring rikishi is cut off.


intai-zumo

From Japanese 引退相撲 (intai-zumō, literally “retirement sumo”).

(sumo) A one-day exhibition tournament to commemorate the retirement of a salaried rikishi.


degeiko

(sumo) A practice session between rikishi of competing heya.


deshi

Borrowed from Japanese 弟子 (deshi, “disciple, pupil”).

(sumo) a member of a heya ("stable"); trained by its shisho


eboshi

(sumo) the hat of black lacquer worn by the gyoji presiding over a sumo match


gyoji

gyoji (plural)
gyojis (plural)
gyōji (alternative)

Informants stated that from time immemorial the Emperor himself was a sumo fan, and that it would be disrespectful to appear before him clad in only a long belt-like affair, such as gyojis wear, without his prior consent.

1945 January–March, Marvin K[aufmann] Opler, “A ‘Sumo’ Tournament at Tule Lake Center”, in Ralph Linton, editor, American Anthropologist, volume 47, number 1, Menasha, Wis.: American Anthropological Association, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 137:


fumidawara

Borrowed from Japanese 踏み俵 (fumidawara, “stepping-bale”).

(sumo) rice bales used at the side of the dohyo at steps


tawara

(sumo) Any of the straw bales, packed with earth, placed in a circle on the dohyo and forming the area that the rikishi must stay inside.


fusa

(sumo) The four knotted tassels hanging from the roof of the dohyo; symbolising the four seasons.


fusen

Borrowed from Japanese 不戦 (fusen, “not fighting, not competing”).

(sumo) A sumo match that is cancelled due to the absence of one of the rikishi.


fusenpai

(sumo) a loss by default for failing to appear, normally because of injury


fusensho

(sumo) a win by default due to the opponent not appearing, normally due to injury


gino-sho

(sumo) a prize for technique; one of the sansho prizes


sansho

(sumo) Any of the three special prizes awarded at the end of a basho.

三賞

special prize awarded at the end of a basho


kanto-sho

(sumo) A special prize for fighting-spirit; one of the sansho prizes.


shukun-sho

(sumo) A special prize for outstanding performance; one of the sansho prizes.


gunbai

From Japanese 軍配 (“war fan”), shortened form of 軍配団扇 (gunbai uchiwa).

(sumo) The lacquered wooden fan used by the gyoji.


hanazumo

From Japanese 花相撲 (hana-zumō, literally “flower sumo”).

(sumo) A special sumo exhibition tournament.


haridashi

(sumo) an extra rikishi at a rank that normally only allows two


heyagashira

(sumo) the rikishi of highest rank in a particular heya


higashi

From Japanese 東 (higashi, “east”), from the way the eastern or right side of the sumo ranking list is considered more prestigious, by analogy with the rising sun as opposed to the setting sun.

(sumo) The (more prestigious) right-hand side of the banzuke.

(sumo) A rikishi listed on the right side of the banzuke.


nishi

From Japanese 西 (nishi, “west”), from the way the western or left side of the sumo ranking list is considered less prestigious, by analogy with the setting sun as opposed to the rising sun.

(sumo) the left-hand (less prestigious) side of the banzuke (番付, “ranking list”)

(sumo) a rikishi (力士, “sumo wrestler”) listed on the left side of the banzuke


hyoshigi

I put the glasses down and found that my heart was beating fast, thumping with an accelerating sound like that of the hyoshigi which I had last heard in that sombre vaporous gallery in the Wallace Collection.

1978, Iris Murdoch, The Sea, The Sea, Vintage, published 1999, page 247:

(sumo) One of the wooden sticks that are clapped by the yobidashi to draw the spectator's attention.


yobidashi

(sumo) Any of the functionaries whose tasks include building the dohyo, making announcements, singing the shikona of each rikishi and advising them of preparation time.


shikona

(sumo) The wrestling name of a rikishi, normally derived from his heya, place of birth etc.


ichidai toshiyori

From Japanese 一代年寄 (ichidai toshiyori, literally “lifelong elder”).

(sumo) the lifelong status of elder conferred on an outstanding yokozuna


ichimon

(sumo) Any of the five groups that most heya belong to.

一門

any of the five groups that most heya belong to


ichomage

(sumo) Alternative spelling of oichomage.


oichomage

From Japanese 大銀杏髷 (oo-ichō-mage, literally “gingko topknot”).

(sumo) The elaborate hairstyle, resembling a gingko leaf, worn by sekitori during bouts and on ceremonial occasions.


juryo-kaku

(sumo) the rank of gyoji who officiates a bout involving a rikishi from the juryo division


kachi-koshi

(sumo) a majority of wins in an honbasho; reflects positively on the rikishi's ranking


make-koshi

(sumo) a majority of losses in a honbasho; reflects negatively on the rikishi's ranking


kanjin-sumo

From Japanese 勧進相撲 (kanjin-zumō), with zumō changed to its usual English form sumo.

(sumo) The historic form of sumo that developed into the modern sport.


kensho

(sumo) Prize money given to encourage rikishi by sponsors.


kinboshi

Borrowed from Japanese 金星 (kinboshi, “gold star”).

(sumo) An honour awarded to a rikishi of maegashira rank upon beating a yokozuna.


kinjite

Borrowed from Japanese 禁じ手 (kinjite), from 禁じる (kinjiru, “to forbid”) + 手 (te, “hand”).


kimarite

(sumo) any of the 82 techniques that may be used to win a match


kimarite-gakari

(sumo) The official who announces the winner of the torikumi and the kimarite used.


torikumi-hyo

From Japanese 取組表 (torikumi-hyō, literally “bout table”).

(sumo) The programme of bouts in a day at a tournament.


koen-kai

(sumo) a sumo fan club, either for a heya or for a particular rikishi; a useful source of money


ozumo

Borrowed from Japanese 大相撲 (grand sumo).


maezumo

Borrowed from Japanese 前相撲, literally "before sumo".

(sumo) The unofficial rank of beginners etc.


makuuchi dohyo-iri

From Japanese 幕内土俵入り (makuuchi dohyō-iri, literally “makuuchi ring-entering”).

(sumo) A group ring-entering ceremony performed by all members of the makuuchi division, except the yokozuna, after the juryo bouts.


makuuchi-kaku

(sumo) The gyoji who referees bouts involving a rikishi from the makuuchi division.


masu-seki

(sumo) The expensive seats, holding four people, on the ground floor of the arena.


matawari

(sumo) A form of exercise in which a rikishi sits on the ground with his legs wide apart, then lowers his torso to touch the ground between his legs.


matta

(sumo) The false start of a bout due to mutual misunderstanding.


mizuhiki-maku

(sumo) The curtain that hangs from the yakata, symbolizing the movement of clouds and the passing of time.


mono-ii

From Japanese 物言い (mono-ii, literally “talk of things”).

(sumo) a conference among the shimpan to reconsider a referee's decision


shimpan

From Japanese 審判 (shinpan, しんぱん), from Middle Chinese 審判 (ʃim-pʰàn "to judge", "to try") (compare Mandarin shěnpàn 审判).

(sumo) the four judges, sitting at each cardinal point


shiranui-gata

Borrowed from Japanese 不知火型 (shiranuigata).

(sumo) The less common ring-entering ceremony performed by yokozuna, consisting only of offensive moves.


unryu-gata

(sumo) The normal ring-entering ceremony performed by yokozuna, consisting of both offensive and defensive moves.


myoseki

(sumo) Any of the 105 names available to sumo oyakata.

名跡

any of the 105 names available to sumo oyakata


nage-waza

(sumo) Any of the 12 throwing techniques.


sashichigai

(sumo) a decision by the shimpan to overturn the decision of the gyoji


seigen jikan

(sumo) The time allocated for the shikiri rituals before the beginning of each bout.


senshuraku

Borrowed from Japanese 千秋楽 (senshūraku, literally “music of a thousand autumns”).

(sumo) The last day of a fifteen-day tournament, always on a Sunday.


shihon-bashira

From Japanese 四本柱 (shi-hon-bashira, literally “four pillars”).

(sumo) The four pillars that support the tsuriyane over the sumo ring; in modern practice removed for better television coverage.


shikiri

(sumo) the preparation time before a sumo bout during which the rikishi try to gain a psychological advantage by intense staring (niramiai) and when salt is ceremonially thrown (kiyome-jio)


shikiri-sen

Borrowed from Japanese 仕切り線 (shikiri-sen).

(sumo) The two enamel lines, embedded in the dohyo, behind which the rikishi crouch in preparation for the tachiai.


tachiai

(sumo) the initial charge towards each other by the rikishi at the start of a sumo bout


buchikamashi

Borrowed from Japanese ぶちかまし (buchikamashi).

(sumo) The heavy collision of the two rikishi during the tachiai at the start of a sumo bout.


shiko

(sumo) One of the basic sumo exercises, in which the rikishi raises a leg high in the air to the side, then brings it down with a stamp. It is also performed on the dohyo to drive away bad spirits.


shimekomi

Borrowed from Japanese 締め込み (shimekomi).

(sumo) The silk mawashi worn by sekitori for competition.


shindeshi

(sumo) a young rikishi recruit, not yet professional


shini-tai

(sumo) A rikishi who is crushed by his opponent when both fall simultaneously.


shokkiri

(sumo) A comical display of fouls etc performed by deshi during tours.


shozoku

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-shozoku.wav

(sumo) The garment worn by the gyoji, derived from court dress.


shusse hiro

(sumo) The ceremonial introduction of new rikishi at a tournament.


suna-kaburi

From Japanese 砂被り (suna-kaburi, literally “covered by sand”).

(sumo) The six rows of single seats closest to the dohyo.


tachimochi

From Japanese 太刀持ち (tachimochi, “sword bearer”).

(sumo) A rikishi who participates in the dohyo-iri ceremony of a yokozuna by carrying a sword behind him.


tachi-seki

From Japanese 立ち席 (tachi-seki, literally “standing seat”).

(sumo) tickets to stand at the back of the arena.


taiko

Borrowed from Japanese 太鼓 (たいこ taiko), from 太 (tʰàj, “great”) + 鼓 (kú, “drum”).

(sumo) A traditional drum, beaten by yobidashi to announce the beginning of a tournament, and at the end of each day


tategyoji

Borrowed from Japanese 立行司 (tate-gyōji).

(sumo) Either of the two highest-ranked gyoji who referee matches involving a yokozuna.


teppo

(sumo) a wooden pillar that is slapped repeatedly by a rikishi as a sumo wrestling exercise.


teuchi-shiki

From Japanese 手打ち式 (teuchi-shiki, literally “clapping ceremony”).

(sumo) A welcoming ceremony to new rikishi.


tokei-gakari

From Japanese 時計係 (tokei-gakari, literally “one who is responsible for the clock”).

(sumo) The shimpan who acts as timekeeper.


tokoyama

(sumo) A hairdresser who makes the rikishi's topknot; they have their own ranks.


toku-dawara

Borrowed from Japanese 徳俵 (tokudawara, “special rice bale”).

In fact, the sumo ring is not exactly round. Instead, the ring is broadened at four points by the width of a small rice bag (see fig. 1). These four rice bags placed at the cardinal points of the ring are called toku-dawara (lucky straw bags).

Just outside the circle the cardinal directions are marked by four tokudawara. It is only on these that the contestant can step outside the ring and not be deemed to have lost.

2000, Tony Allan, Realm of the Rising Sun: Japanese Myth, page 51:

(sumo) Small enlargements at the cardinal points of the dohyo; originally the entry and exit points.


torinaoshi

(sumo) a rematch; ordered by the judges if unable to determine a winner


toshiyori-kabu

(sumo) One of the 105 licenses to coach, and the associated name of an elder.


tsukebito

(sumo) An attendant of a higher-ranked rikishi or gyoji.


tsuki-oshi

(sumo) a style of fighting involving only thrusts or pushes


tsuna

Borrowed from Japanese 綱 (つな, tsuna, “rope”).

(sumo) the wide ceremonial belt, with hanging zigzag ribbons, worn by a yokozuna


tsunauchi

(sumo) the ceremony in which a yokozuna's tsuna belt is made and presented


tsuyuharai

Borrowed from Japanese 露払い, literally "dew sweeper".

(sumo) a heralding attendant who walks in front of a yokozuna at his dohyo-iri ceremony


yagura

Borrowed from Japanese 櫓 (“tower, turret, keep, scaffold”).

(sumo) A high wooden tower in front of a sumo arena from which a yobidashi beats the taiko drum each day before and after each tournament.


yakata

(sumo) The structure, suspended over the sumo dohyo, that resembles the roof of a Shinto shrine.


yotsu-zumo

(sumo) A style of sumo centred on gripping the mawashi.


yumitori-shiki

(sumo) The bow-twirling ceremony that closes each day of a tournament.


zensho yusho

Borrowed from Japanese 全勝優勝 (zenshō yūshō).

(sumo) the act of winning a tournament and not losing a single bout


zenpai

Borrowed from Japanese 全敗 (zenpai, “utter defeat”).

(sumo) the act of losing every bout in a tournament


isamiashi

Borrowed from Japanese 勇み足, literally "forward step out".

(sumo) a situation in which an attacking rikishi accidentally steps too far forward and out of the ring, his opponent thus winning


fumidashi

From Japanese 踏み出し (fumidashi, literally “stepping out”).

(sumo) A situation in which a defending rikishi accidentally steps too far back and out of the ring, his opponent thus winning. A rear step out.


koshikudake

Borrowed from Japanese 腰砕け, literally "inadvertent collapse".

(sumo) A situation in which a rikishi accidentally falls over, his opponent thus winning.


okuriashi

Borrowed from Japanese 送足, literally "step out".

(sumo) A situation in which a rikishi accidentally steps out of ring whilst carrying his opponent out, his opponent thus winning.


tsukihiza

Borrowed from Japanese 突き膝 (つきひざ, tsukihiza), literally meaning “push-down knee”.

(sumo) a situation in which a rikishi accidentally touches the dohyo with his knee, his opponent thus winning


tsukite

Borrowed from Japanese つき手, meaning "hand touch down".

(sumo) The situation in which a rikishi accidentally touches the dohyo with his hand, his opponent thus winning.


abisetaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 浴びせ倒し (“backward force down”).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker forces his opponent over backwards by throwing his weight into him from a grappling position.


amiuchi

Borrowed from Japanese 網打ち, literally fisherman's throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker throws his opponent behind him by pulling his arm with both hands and twisting backwards; resembles casting a fishing net.


ashitori

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker takes his opponent down by grabbing and lifting his leg with both hands


chongake

Borrowed from Japanese ちょん掛け, literally "pulling heel hook".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker hooks his heel behind that of his opponent from the inside, pulls the leg towards him, grabs the opponent's arm on the same side and twists him sideways and backwards.


gasshohineri

Borrowed from Japanese 合掌捻り, literally "clasped hand twist down".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker clasps his hands behind the opponent's back and twists him down and over


harimanage

From Japanese 波離間投げ (“backward belt throw”).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker, at the edge of the dohyo, reaches over his opponent's shoulder, grabs his mawashi from behind, then pulls and twists him past his own body.


hatakikomi

Borrowed from Japanese 叩き込み, literally "slap down".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker dodges his opponent at the tachiai and slaps his opponent's shoulder, back or arm, forcing him to touch the dohyo


hikiotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 引き落とし, literally hand pull down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls on his opponent's arm, shoulder or mawashi while backing away.


hikkake

Borrowed from Japanese 引っ掛け, literally arm-grabbing force out.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's arm with both hands and pulls him past him while moving backwards and to the side.


izori

From Japanese 居反り, literally backwards body drop.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker dives under his opponent's charge, grabs his knees or his mawashi, and lifts him up and over backwards.


kainahineri

Borrowed from Japanese 腕捻り, literally "two-handed arm twist down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker locks one of his opponent's arms with both arms, then twists him down.


kakenage

Borrowed from Japanese 掛け投げ, literally hooking inner thigh throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker hooks one leg under those of his opponent, raises the hooked leg up and back forcing the opponent up and over.


kakezori

Borrowed from Japanese 掛け反り, literally "hooking backwards body drop".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker, with his head under one of his opponent's arms, takes an inside grip on the opponent's mawashi and twists him over a leg while driving his head into the opponent's side to force him over backwards.


katasukashi

Borrowed from Japanese 肩透かし, meaning under-shoulder swing down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker forces his opponent down by placing his hands on the opponent's shoulder blade (one inside and one outside) and pulling him down and forward while backing away.


kawazugake

Borrowed from Japanese 河津掛け, literally hooking backward counter throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker hooks his opponent's leg from the inside, pulls it forward and across his own body, taking him over backwards.


kekaeshi

Borrowed from Japanese 蹴返し, literally "minor inner foot sweep".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker sweeps his opponent's leg from under him by kicking it from the inside; often accompanied by a slap on the back.


ketaguri

Borrowed from Japanese 蹴手繰り, literally pulling inside ankle sweep.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker leaps aside at the tachiai and sweeps his opponent's front leg from the inside while slapping the shoulder or pulling the arm.


kimedashi

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker bars or locks the opponent's arms by wrapping his own arms round them from the outside, then grabs one of the wrists and pulls up and in and then swings or marches his opponent backwards and out. An arm-barring force-out.


kimetaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 極め倒し, literally "arm barring force down".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker bars or locks his opponent's arms from the outside then forces him down by throwing his weight on top of him


kirikaeshi

Borrowed from Japanese 切り返し, literally "twisting backward knee trip".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker puts his knee behind his opponent's leg then twists him backwards over the knee.


komatasukui

Borrowed from Japanese 小股掬い, meaning "over thigh scooping body drop".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker attempts to throw his opponent and, when the opponent steps forward to defend himself, the attacker grabs his leg, near the thigh, and pulls upward driving the opponent over backwards.


koshinage

Borrowed from Japanese 腰投げ, literally "hip throw".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker turns his opponent while pulling him onto his hips then straightens his knees and throws him over and onto his back


kotehineri

Borrowed from Japanese 小手捻り, literally armlocking twist down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker locks his opponents arm at the biceps then twists him around and down.


kotenage

Borrowed from Japanese 小手投げ, literally armlock throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker wraps his arm around that of his opponent and, when it is locked near the elbow, turning away from him.


kubihineri

Borrowed from Japanese 首捻り, literally head twisting throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker wraps one hand around his opponent's neck and grips his arm with the other; he then forces his opponent down by twisting his neck.


kubinage

kubinage (plural)
kubi nage (alternative)

Borrowed from Japanese 首投げ (“neck throw”).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker wraps one arm around his opponent's neck then turns and throws him.


makiotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 巻き落とし, meaning "twist down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker throws his opponent by twisting him towards his own inside hand.


mitokorozeme

From Japanese 三所攻め (mi-tokoro-zeme, literally “attacking three places”).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker attempts an inside leg trip with one leg, tries to pull the other out from under him, and drives his head into the opponent's stomach so as to force him out backwards. A triple attack force out.


nichonage

Borrowed from Japanese 二丁投げ, literally "body drop throw".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker places a leg in front of his opponent's leg, at the knee, then sweeps back with his leg and pulls the opponent forward over the leg.


nimaigeri

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker kicks away the opponent's ankle while throwing or twisting him onto his side.


okuridashi

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker drives his opponent out from behind.


okurigake

From Japanese 送り掛け, meaning "rear leg trip".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker hooks his legs behind one of his opponent's and pulls it towards himself from behind, toppling his opponent forward.


okurihikiotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 送り引き落とし, meaning "rear pull down".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker circles behind his opponent and pulls him down while backing away


okurinage

Borrowed from Japanese 送り投げ, literally "rear throw down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker circles behind his opponent and throws him forward or to the side and down.


okuritaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 送り倒し, literally "rear push down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker forces his opponent down from behind.


okuritsuridashi

Borrowed from Japanese 送り吊り出し, literally rear lift out.

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker circles behind his opponent, lifts him up and carries him out of the ring


okuritsuriotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 送り吊り落とし, meaning "rear lifting body slam".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker circles behind his opponent then lifts him up and slams him down.


drop kick

drop kicks (plural)
drop-kick (alternative)

1933 April 22 Jumping Joe Savoldi publicity article
AND ON JOE'S DROP KICK THEY DROP - !

Joe was unable to return to the ring after missing a flying dropkick

1933 May 16, 10,000 FANS SEE LEWIS WIN FIFTH WRESTLING TITLE:

At no time did Savoldi attempt to employ the new attack that he calls "drop-kick." Once he offended the rules by using a flying tackle

1933 May 18, JOE SAVOLDI WINS MAT BOUT IN PHILADELPHIA:

1937 SAVOLDI'S DROP KICK
Easily the most spectacular match-winner of this season is Joe Savoldi's drop kick. It will be easily understood from this picture why "when they are kicked they stay kicked." After a man is stunned by the kick it is an easy matter for Savoldi to body press a fall.

Joe Savoldi, perhaps the originator of the dropkick, used to have a glorious crop of curls

1949, WHAT'S HAPPENED TO OLD-TIME FAVOURITES?:

2008 William Shatner Shatner On His Star Trek Signature Drop Kick 2 minutes 28 seconds Official William Shatner Page
okay, I'll just go out and my dropkick: raise the right hand, right leg, and then I had this flash of reality. Newton's law is equal force meets equal force, whatever that thing is, everything is equal, and I realize in a dropkick when you go up in the air like that, any force you push is hardly any force at all. The reality is, a dropkick has no significance whatsoever, only on the stuntman, that reels back.

(professional wrestling) A kick to the opponent made by leaping into the air and kicking with both feet before dropping to the ground.


omata

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's leg from the inside and lifts it up and backwards, driving his body into that of the defender, forcing him over onto his back. A thigh scooping body drop.


osakate

Borrowed from Japanese 大逆手, literally backward twisting overarm throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker, grappling near the edge, bends backwards and swings his opponent around and out.


oshidashi

Borrowed from Japanese 押し出し, literally "frontal push out".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker pushes his opponent out of the ring, maintaining hand contact at all times


oshitaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 押し倒し, meaning frontal push down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pushed his opponent backwards and over.


sakatottari

Borrowed from Japanese 逆とったり, literally arm bar throw counter.

(sumo) A kimarite, counter to a tottari, in which the attacker frees the arm being barred and forces his opponent to fall forward.


diamond cutter

(professional wrestling) A professional wrestling move in which the wrestler takes the opponent's neck and drops them to the mat.


shitatedashinage

Borrowed from Japanese 下手出し投げ, literally pulling underarm throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker turns away from his opponent and pulls him forward and down.


shitatehineri

Borrowed from Japanese 下手捻り, literally twisting underarm throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker twists his opponent down with an inside grip.


shitatenage

Borrowed from Japanese 下手投げ, literally underarm throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent straight down with his inside arm as he twists away.


shumokuzori

Borrowed from Japanese 撞木反り, literally "bell hammer backwards body drop".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker ducks under his opponent's arm and lifts him up and takes him over backwards.


sokubiotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 素首落とし, literally head chop down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker chops down on his opponent's neck, forcing him to touch down.


sotogake

Borrowed from Japanese 外掛け, literally "outside leg trip".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent towards him, hooks his leg, and drives him over backwards.


clinic

clinics (plural)
clinique (alternative archaic)

Borrowed from French clinique, from Late Latin clīnicus (“a bed-ridden person, one baptized on a sick-bed, a physician”), from Ancient Greek κλῑνικός (klīnikós, “pertaining to a bed”), from κλῑ́νη (klī́nē, “bed”), from κλῑ́νω (klī́nō, “to lean, incline”).

der

(wrestling) A series of workouts used to build skills of practitioners regardless of team affiliation.


Stink Face

Stink Faces (plural)
Stinkface (alternative)

Her low point came when she was the unlucky recipient of a “Stink Face” administered by Rikishi.

2001, Floyd Conner, Wrestling's Most Wanted:

2002, Mick Foley, Foley is Good http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&vid=ISBN0061032417&id=Zghk-VaOVC8C&pg=PA181&lpg=PA181&sig=awDF-ul0is7ZNxd8sp7_j-xGTuQ
What I have in mind for Al is the literary equivalent of Mr. Socko, The Worm, The Stink Face, The Ho Train, and The People’s Elbow all being delivered simultaneously, and the effect will be devastating.

A character named “Puke,” who can vomit on command, X-Pac urinating in an opponents boot, and Rikishi’s “stink face” (i.e., rubbing his massive rear in the face of another wrestler) are examples of attempts to boost wrestling ratings.

2003, Patrice A Oppliger, Wrestling and Hypermasculinity http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&vid=ISBN0786416920&id=kbf5Lwzl2J8C&pg=PA68&lpg=PA68&sig=InDuvz1P8nk-kUPM5Dig5b5CS78

(professional wrestling) A humiliating wrestling move in which a wrestler rubs their exposed buttocks in their opponent's face.


full nelson

With the quickness of a striking rattler he launched himself full upon Sabor’s back, his strong young arms seeking and gaining a full-Nelson upon the beast, as he had learned it that other day during his bloody, wrestling victory over Terkoz.

1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A. L. Burt Company, 1914 June, →OCLC:

Bouncers had kids in full nelson headlocks as we were rushed out the side door because we were told it was too dangerous. The place was a mess; it was a total riot.

2017 July 18, Daniel Dylan Wray, quoting Martin Rev, “‘It was like going into the trenches’: how Suicide rioted against plastic punk”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

He constantly (and inconsequentially) reports online abuse too, like the person who said he should be “put in a full nelson and thrown in a river” for his mythical sewage vote

2021 October 26, Helen Pidd, “‘Got to be accessible’: the Derbyshire MP set on holding surgeries”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(wrestling) A hold in which the wrestler applying the hold puts their arms under the armpits of their opponent and applies pressure to the back of their opponent's head or neck.


brainbuster

(wrestling) A move in which the wrestler drops the opponent on the head to the mat.


half nelson

half nelsons (plural)
half-nelson (alternative)

(wrestling) A hold in which the wrestler applying the hold puts one arm under the arm of the opponent and applies pressure to the back of the opponent's head or neck.


monkey flip

(professional wrestling) A move in which a wrestler takes his opponent and flips that person over his head.


monkey flip

en-verb

monkey flip (third-person singular simple present monkey flips, present participle monkey flipping, simple past and past participle monkey flipped)

monkey flips (present singular third-person)
monkey flipping (participle present)
monkey flipped (participle past)
monkey flipped (past)

Rappers; I monkey flip 'em with the funky rhythm / I be kickin', musician inflictin' composition

1994, Nas, “N.Y. State of Mind”, in DJ Premier (music), Ilmmatic:

(professional wrestling, transitive) To perform a monkey flip on.


shooter

From Middle English schoter, schuter, schotter, scheter, schetare, scheotere, from Old English sċēotere (“shooter”), equivalent to shoot + -er. Compare Dutch schieter, schutter (“shooter”), German Schießer (“shooter”), Swedish skjutare, West Frisian sjitter (“shooter”).

(professional wrestling slang) A professional wrestler who uses actual fighting moves as part of his style, or who speaks his mind during a live or televised event (instead of speaking from a script).


sotokomata

Borrowed from Japanese 外小股, literally "over thigh scooping body drop".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's leading leg, over the top of the thigh, and drives him over backwards


sotomuso

Borrowed from Japanese 外無双, literally “outside nothing pair”, but meaning "outer thigh propping twist down".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker reaches over his opponent's body to block his leg and, at the same time, locking his gripping arm and twisting him over onto his back


sototasukizori

Borrowed from Japanese 外たすき反り, literally outer reverse backwards body drop.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker bars his opponent's inside gripping arm, grabs his closest leg and pulls it up and forces him to touch down.


sukuinage

Borrowed from Japanese 掬い投げ, literally "scooping throw" but conventionally translated as "beltless arm throw".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker releases his gripping hand, extends his arm across his opponent's back, turns away and pulls him forward and down


susoharai

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker sweeps his opponent's leg forward and pulls him backwards and down.


susotori

Borrowed from Japanese 裾取り, literally ankle pick.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's ankle and pulls it up, driving him over backwards.


tasukizori

From Japanese たすき反り (“reverse backwards body drop”).

bor

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker ducks under his opponent's arm, grabs his arm and back leg and leans backwards, driving him over.


tokkurinage

Borrowed from Japanese 徳利投げ, "two-handed head twist down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's head or neck with both hands and twists him over.


tottari

Borrowed from Japanese とったり, literally "arm bar throw".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's arm at the wrist, bars it, and forces him down.


tsukaminage

Borrowed from Japanese つかみ投げ (tsukaminage), literally "lifting throw".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent past him and heaves him into the air.


tsukidashi

Borrowed from Japanese 突き出し, literally frontal thrust out.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker drives his opponent backwards and out using a rhythmic thrusting motion.


lariat

(wrestling) An attack where the wrestler runs towards an opponent, wraps his arm around their upper chest and neck and then forces them to the ground.


Greco-Roman

en-adj

Greco-Roman (comparative more Greco-Roman, superlative most Greco-Roman)

more Greco-Roman (comparative)
most Greco-Roman (superlative)
Graeco-Roman (alternative British)

/ˌɡɹiːkəʊˈɹəʊmən/

/ˌɡɹɛkoʊˈɹoʊmən/

Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling#English

(wrestling) Describing Greco-Roman wrestling, a form of wrestling where fighters may only attack above the waist.


tsukiotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 突き落とし, literally "thrust down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker drives his opponent down using a thrusting movement on his rib cage or shoulder.


tsukitaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 突き倒し, literally "frontal thrust down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker, after a heated slapping exchange, thrusts his opponent over onto his back or side.


tsumatori

Borrowed from Japanese 褄取り, literally "rear toe pick".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker reaches down and picks up his opponent's foot (at the toes) and pulls back and up forcing him to fall forward


tsuridashi

Borrowed from Japanese 吊り出し (tsuridashi).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grips his opponent's mawashi and heaves him into the air, lifting him over and out of the ring.


tsuriotoshi

From Japanese 吊り落とし (tsuriotoshi, literally “hanging and dropping”).

bor

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grips his opponent's mawashi, lifts him, and swings him sideways and down. A lifting bodyslam.


tsutaezori

From Japanese 伝え反り (tsutaezori), literally underarm forward body drop.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker dives under his opponent's arm whilst maintaining a grip on it, then leans back, forcing him to fall forward.


uchigake

From Japanese 内掛け (uchigake, “inside leg trip”).

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent forward, hooks his opponent's leg with his own, and pulls him over backwards.


uchimuso

Borrowed from Japanese 内無双, literally inner thigh propping twist down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker sweeps one of his opponent's legs up by hitting his inner thigh, then pulling him with the other hand.


ushiromotare

Borrowed from Japanese 後ろもたれ, literally backward lean out.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker leans into his opponent from behind, forcing him back and out.


utchari

Borrowed from Japanese うっちゃり, literally "backward pivot throw".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker, in a last ditch effort, drops his hips while twisting and pulling his opponent up and past him, sometimes onto his back


uwatedashinage

Borrowed from Japanese 上手出し投げ, literally "pulling overarm throw".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent forward and down.


uwatehineri

Borrowed from Japanese 上手捻り, literally "twisting overarm throw".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker twists his opponent in the direction of his outside arm.


uwatenage

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker heaves his opponent down as he turns away


waridashi

Borrowed from Japanese 割り出し, literally "upper-arm force out".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's arm at the biceps and pushes him back and out.


watashikomi

Borrowed from Japanese 渡し込み (watashikomi, “thigh-grabbing push down”).

Akinoshima chases "Yankee Doodle Dandy" around the dohyo, until he finally wins by watashikomi (thigh grabbing push down).

1999 March 22, Ken Crouch, “Day 9 spoiler - Kintaro's Musings Group”, in rec.sport.sumo (Usenet):

Kyokushuzan deployed several rare techniques such as watashi-komi, which he used in September of 1996.

2013, J Sargeant, Wild Men, Bad Boys and Model Citiizens:

Thigh-Grabbing Push Down (Watashikomi)

2016, Andrew Zerling, Sumo for Mixed Martial Arts: Winning Clinches, Takedowns, & Tactics, →ISBN:

Ozeki Terunofuji (4-2) outlasted top-ranked maegashira Tochiozan (0-6), while New Year champion Kotoshogiku saw off sekiwake Okinoumi (1-5) with a watashikomi thigh-grabbing pushdown to level his mark at 3-3.

2016 November 18, “Goeido, Hakuho fall; Kakuryu still unbeaten”, in The Japan Times:

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker, while driving his opponent forward, grabs his leg and pulls it, forcing him over.


yaguranage

Borrowed from Japanese 櫓投げ, meaning inner thigh throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent towards him, places his knee against his opponent's inner thigh and drives the leg upwards while forcing him over.


yobimodoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 呼び戻し, literally pulling body slam.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker first pulls his opponent forward, then suddenly releases his grip and pushes him back and down.


yorikiri

From Japanese 寄り切り (yorikiri, “frontal force out”).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker drives his opponent out backwards while maintaining a constant grip on his mawashi.


yoritaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 寄り倒し, literally "frontal crush out".

(sumo) A kimarite in which, during a yorikiri attack, the opponent collapses to the floor.


zubuneri

Borrowed from Japanese ずぶねり, meaning "head pivot throw".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker buries his head in the opponent's chest, locks his arm, and spins him down using the head as fulcrum.


baby face

baby faces (plural)
babyface (alternative)
baby-face (alternative)

[Jim] Freedman began his analysis by noting two important facts about professional wrestling: First, that heels triumph considerably more often than do babyfaces and, second, that they triumph by different means, relying on secret holds, sly managers, secret weapons, and illegal maneuvers, whereas babyfaces trust to their physical abilities and athletic training alone.

1989, Bruce Lincoln, “The Dialectics of Symbolic Inversion”, in Discourse and the Construction of Society: Comparative Studies of Myth, Ritual, and Classification, Oxford, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, part III (Classification), page 158:

And they [wrestling fans] identified with the local farmer Kasaboski, the French-Canadian boys from Montreal, the clean-cut American lads and the handsome, muscular baby faces. At the same time, they jeered the heels, the masked men, the arrogant, bearded Russians and Germans, and the treacherous Japanese. Promoters always played on stereotypes and post-war biases.

2007, Gary Howard, “Linking the East and the North”, in The Rassler from Renfrew: The History of Northland Wrestling Enterprises (1946–1980) Promoter – Larry Kasaboski, Renfrew, Ont.: General Store Publishing House, →ISBN, page 41:

A babyface’s success depends a great deal on the heels he’s facing. It’s all in how you make them look. A good heel will make your babyface look like Superman.

2007 October, Dave Batista [i.e., Dave Bautista], with Jeremy Roberts, “Evolution”, in Batista Unleashed, New York, N.Y.: Pocket Books, →ISBN, page 127:

(professional wrestling, slang) A headlining wrestler with a persona embodying heroic or virtuous traits and who is regarded as a "good guy", especially one who is handsome and well-conditioned.