noun

1. the part of the leg behind the knee
2. 1. the back of the thigh
   2. the thigh and the buttock together
3. the hock or hind leg of a four-legged animal
4. the upper part of a hog's hind leg, or meat from this, salted, dried, smoked, etc.
5. ☆ Informal a licensed amateur radio operator
6. ☆

   Etymology: < hamfatter, an actor of low grade, said to be so named from former use of ham fat to remove makeup

   Slang an amateur or incompetent performer, esp. an actor who performs with showy exaggeration

Etymology: ME hamme < OE hamm, akin to Ger dial. hamme < IE base *konemo-, shin bone (> Gr knēmē): hamsenses & infl. by am(ateur)

intransitive verb, transitive verb hammed, hamming ham′·ming

noun