hambone

[ ham-bohn ]

/ ˈhæmˌboʊn /

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

QUIZZES

Loosen up your grammar muscles because it’s time to test your knowledge on verb tenses!

Question 1 of 6

The verb tenses can be split into which 3 primary categories?

First recorded in 1850–55; ham¹ + bone; cf. ham²

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
They'd rather fight en a yaller dawg likes fo' to worry a hambone.
Isle o' Dreams|Frederick F. Moore
Reynolds did as directed and Hambone ducked for cover and the wagon stood stock still.
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
Accompanying Hambone were Snow and Reynolds of our section, they sitting in the back end of the wagon.
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