English Explanatory Dictionary

hamstring

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. One of the great tendons situated in each side of the ham, or space back of the knee, and connected with the muscles of the back of the thigh.
  2. The biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus muscles.
verb
  1. To lame or disable by cutting the tendons of the ham or knee; to hough.
  2. To cripple; to incapacitate; to disable.

Pronunciation

/ˈhæmstɹɪŋ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-hamstring.wav

Word forms

hamstring hamstrings hamstringing hamstrung hamstringed

Etymology

From ham (“region back of the knee joint”) + string.

Synonyms

hams hammy hammie hock hough hox cripple incapacitate disable

Derived words

hamstringer
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