hamstrung

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).

Thesaurus

hamstrung

adjective incapacitated, disabled, crippled, helpless, paralysed, at a loss, hors de combat (French)