hamstring

ham·string  (hmstrng)

n.

1. Any of the tendons at the rear hollow of the human knee.

2. or hamstrings The hamstring muscle.

3. The large tendon in the back of the hock of a quadruped.

tr.v. ham·strung (-strng), ham·string·ing, ham·strings

1. To cut the hamstring of (an animal or a person) and thereby cripple.

2. To destroy or hinder the efficiency of; frustrate: "These worthwhile books are often hamstrung by unimaginative formats and inaccurate art" (Don Lessem).

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hamstring [ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) Anatomy any of the tendons at the back of the knee Related adj popliteal

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) the large tendon at the back of the hock in the hind leg of a horse, etc.

vb -strings, -stringing, -strung (tr)

1. to cripple by cutting the hamstring of

2. to ruin or thwart

[ham¹ + string]

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hamstring  (hmstrng)

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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ham, hamstring - Originally, the part of the leg behind the knee was called the ham, and then the tendon near the ham was the hamstring; by extension, the ham became the thigh and buttock together.

See also related terms for thigh.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	hamstring - one of the tendons at the back of the knee hamstring tendon sinew, tendon - a cord or band of inelastic tissue connecting a muscle with its bony attachment
Verb	1.	hamstring - make ineffective or powerless; "The teachers were hamstrung by the overly rigid schedules" bedevil, dun, rag, torment, frustrate, crucify - treat cruelly; "The children tormented the stuttering teacher"
	2.	hamstring - cripple by cutting the hamstring lame, cripple - deprive of the use of a limb, especially a leg; "The accident has crippled her for life"

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hamstring

verb thwart, stop, block, prevent, ruin, frustrate, handicap, curb, foil, obstruct, impede, balk, fetter He could hamstring a conservative-led coalition.

Related words
adjective popliteal

Translations

hamstring [ˈhæmstrɪŋ] (hamstrung (vb: pt, pp))

A. N [of person] → tendón m de la corva; [of animal] → tendón m del jarrete

B. VT (lit) → desjarretar (fig) → paralizar

C. CPD hamstring injury N → lesión f del tendón de la corva

hamstring [ˈhæmstrɪŋ]

n → tendon m du jarret hamstring injury

vt [+ person, activity, development] → paralyser
hamstring injury n → claquage m au jarret

hamstring vb: pret, ptp <hamstrung>

n (Anat) → Kniesehne f; (of animal) → Achillessehne f

vt

(lit) person, animal → die Kniesehne/Achillessehne durchschneiden (+dat)

(fig) attempt etc → vereiteln, unterbinden; person → handlungsunfähig machen; to be hamstrung → aufgeschmissen sein (inf); (project) → lahmgelegt sein, lahmliegen

hamstring [ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ] (hamstrung (vb: pt, pp))

1. n (Anat) → tendine m del ginocchio; (of horse) → corda del garretto

2. vt → tagliare i tendini delle gambe a (fig) → tagliare le gambe a