ham

Definition

The region back of the knee joint; the popliteal space; the hock.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English hamme, from Old English hamm (“inner or hind part of the knee, ham”), from Proto-West Germanic *hammu, from Proto-Germanic *hamō, *hammō, *hanmō, from Proto-Indo-European *kónh₂m (“leg”). Cognate with Dutch ham (“ham”), dialectal German Hamme (“hind part of the knee, ham”), dialectal Swedish ham (“the hind part of the knee”), Icelandic höm (“the ham or haunch of a horse”), Old Irish cnáim (“bone”), Ancient Greek κνήμη (knḗmē, “shinbone”). Compare gammon and gam.

Example Sentences

• ""I'll have you so your hams will stand out like horse's shanks!" de declared."
• "a little piece of ham for the cat"
• "She put some ham in the beans and cut up some sweet potatoes to boil."