chancery
With the head of an antagonist under one's arm, so that one can pommel it with the…With the head of an antagonist under one's arm, so that one can pommel it with the other fist at will.
Meaning
2 senses(not comparable)With the head of an antagonist under one's arm, so that one can pommel it with the other fist at will.
(figuratively, not comparable)In an awkward situation; wholly under the power of someone else.
Origin
From Middle English chancerie, a reduced form of chancellerie. See chancellery.From Middle English chancerie, a reduced form of chancellerie. See chancellery.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Dictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.