I. ˈham noun
Etymology: Middle English hamme, from Old English hamm; akin to Old High German hamma ham, Greek knēmē shinbone, Old Irish cnáim bone
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : the hollow of the knee
b. : a buttock with its associated thigh — usually used in plural
2. : a cut of meat consisting of a thigh ; especially : one from a hog
3.
[short for hamfatter, from “The Ham-fat Man,” minstrel song]
a. : a showy performer ; especially : an actor performing in an exaggerated theatrical style
b. : a licensed operator of an amateur radio station
4. : a cushion used especially by tailors for pressing curved areas of garments
• ham adjective
II. verb
( hammed ; ham·ming )
Date: 1933
transitive verb
: to execute with exaggerated speech or gestures : overact
ham it up for the camera
intransitive verb
: to overplay a part