Encyclopedia

ham

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ham

1
1. the part of the hindquarters of a pig or similar animal between the hock and the hip
2. Informal
a. the back of the leg above the knee
b. the space or area behind the knee
3. Needlework a cushion used for moulding curves

ham

2
Theatre informal
a. an actor who overacts or relies on stock gestures or mannerisms
b. overacting or clumsy acting
c. (as modifier): a ham actor
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

ham

An amateur radio operator. The term's origin is uncertain, but most likely came from early, pre-radio days, when Morse-code operators were referred to as "ham-fisted" and called "hams." Anecdote places the origin of ham as the first initials of "Hertz," "Ampere" and "Marconi;" however, the term was used before Marconi's time. See amateur radio.
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Mentioned in
References in classic literature
"It's as hard as the hams at the cheesemonger's," said Hunca Munca.
Peggotty was not Ham's father, and began to wonder whether I was mistaken about his relationship to anybody else there.
Then, in the privacy of my own little cabin, she informed me that Ham and Em'ly were an orphan nephew and niece, whom my host had at different times adopted in their childhood, when they were left destitute: and that Mrs.
I was very sensible of my entertainer's goodness, and listened to the women's going to bed in another little crib like mine at the opposite end of the boat, and to him and Ham hanging up two hammocks for themselves on the hooks I had noticed in the roof, in a very luxurious state of mind, enhanced by my being sleepy.
'But I wake when it blows, and tremble to think of Uncle Dan and Ham and believe I hear 'em crying out for help.
Peggotty smiled at us from behind his pipe, and Ham grinned all the evening and did nothing else.
Ham had been patching up a great pair of waterboots; and I, with little Em'ly by my side, had been reading to them.
Some time after he was in his hammock that night, I heard him myself repeat to Ham, 'Poor thing!
Peggotty's times of going out and coming in, and altered Ham's engagements also.
"Some don't like so much sugar in their hams," said Mrs.
This time there were five pieces of ham ranged longitudinally on the plate, with one piece immediately under them at the center of the line.
A 1.5kg piece of ham should take about three hours in a pot.
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