hamstringing

noun

1. one of the tendons at the back of the human knee
2. the large tendon at the back of the hock in a four-legged animal
3. any of three large muscles that form the back of the thigh and work together to flex the leg, extend the thigh, etc.
   in full hamstring muscle

transitive verb hamstrung, hamstringing

1. to disable by cutting a hamstring
2. to lessen or destroy the power or effectiveness of