hambone

[ ham-bohn ]

/ ˈhæmˌboʊn /

(especially in vaudeville) a performer made up in blackface and using a stereotyped black dialect.

Nearby words

1850–55; ham¹ + bone; cf. ham²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

That one made me laugh because I felt like such a hambone pantomiming.
Emmys 2013: Julie Bowen’s Favorite ‘Modern Family’ Moments (VIDEO)|Julie Bowen|September 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Beck is an entertainer, and he does his job with hambone energy and handfuls of self-mockery.
The Beck Rally Is Harmless|John Batchelor|August 27, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Reynolds did as directed and Hambone ducked for cover and the wagon stood stock still.
S.O.S. Stand to!|Reginald Grant
The first thing Hambone did was to go to the back of the wagon for the jar.
S.O.S. Stand to!|Reginald Grant

Our glee was positively fiendish next day when watching Hambone wriggling uneasily in his clothes at parade.
S.O.S. Stand to!|Reginald Grant
A minute or two elapsed and no explosion taking place, Hambone rejoined the wagon and the party proceeded.
S.O.S. Stand to!|Reginald Grant
They'd rather fight en a yaller dawg likes fo' to worry a hambone.
Isle o' Dreams|Frederick F. Moore

1855, "bone of a ham," from ham (n.1) + bone (n.). Meaning "inferior actor or performer" is from 1893, an elaboration of ham (n.2).