English

Etymology 1

Anglo Saxon ham; akin to Dutch ham, dialect German hamme ', Old Hight German hamma . Perhaps named from the bend at the ham, and akin to English chamber. Compare gammon ham.

Pronunciation

• hăm, /hæm/, /h{m/

Noun

1. (Anatomy): The region back of the knee joint; the popliteal space; the hock.
2. The thigh of any animal; especially, the thigh of a hog cured by salting and smoking.
3. An actor with an especially showy or exaggerated style
4. An amateur radio operator

   Quotations

   • A plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams. - Shakespeare, Hamlet.II-ii

Derived expression

• Ham and Eggs

Translations

• Dutch: ham m, hesp f (Belgium)
• Finnish: kinkku (2)
• French: jambon m (2)
• German: Schinken
• Ido: shinko
• Interlingua: gambon (2)
• Italian: prosciutto m (2)
• Portuguese: presunto m (2)
• Romanian: şuncă f
• Polish: szynka m

See also

• bacon
• hog
• pig
• pork
• swine

Etymology 2

North of England dialect

Noun

1. Home - Chaucer