hamstring

American  

[ham-string] / ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ /

noun

1. (in humans and other primates) any of the tendons that bound the ham of the knee.

2. (in quadrupeds) the great tendon at the back of the hock.

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verb (used with object)

hamstrung, hamstringing

1. to disable by cutting the hamstring or hamstrings.

   Synonyms:

   lame, hock, disable, cripple

2. to render powerless or useless; thwart.

   Their efforts were hamstrung by stubborn pride.

hamstring British  

/ ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ /

noun

1. anatomy any of the tendons at the back of the knee

2. the large tendon at the back of the hock in the hind leg of a horse, etc

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verb

1. to cripple by cutting the hamstring of

2. to ruin or thwart

hamstring Scientific  

/ hăm′strĭng′ /

1. A powerful group of muscles at the back of the thigh that arise in the hip and pelvis and insert as strong tendons behind the knee. The hamstring bends the knee and helps to straighten the hip.

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Etymology

Origin of hamstring

First recorded in 1555–65; ham ¹ + string

Example Sentences

Derrick White scored 28 points to lead the Celtics and Payton Pritchard added 27 off the bench as Boston won despite the absence of star Jaylen Brown with hamstring and knee injuries.

From Barron's

Pace bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss the early stages as he recovers from hamstring and Achilles injuries.

From Barron's

Girona posted on social media that the 33-year-old "will undergo surgery this Friday for the hamstring injury he sustained in his left thigh".

From Barron's

Skyy Clark, a senior guard who averaged 13.5 points through the team’s first 14 games, sat out his ninth straight because of a hamstring injury.

From Los Angeles Times

"Clubs wanted to ensure they were in a compliant position rather than having an additional headache of being hamstrung under the new rules."

From BBC

Related Words

• debilitate
• disable
• hinder
• hobble
• immobilize
• impair
• paralyze
• weaken