Hypertext Webster Gateway: "hamstring"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Hamstring \Ham"string`\, n. (Anat.)
One of the great tendons situated in each side of the ham, or
space back of the knee, and connected with the muscles of the
back of the thigh.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Hamstring \Ham"string`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hamstrung}; p. pr.
& vb. n. {Hamstringing}. See {String}.]
To lame or disable by cutting the tendons of the ham or knee;
to hough; hence, to cripple; to incapacitate; to disable.
So have they hamstrung the valor of the subject by
seeking to effeminate us all at home. --Milton.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
hamstring
n : one of the tendons at the back of the knee [syn: {hamstring
tendon}]
v 1: make ineffective or powerless; "The teachers were hamstrung
by the overly rigid schedules"
2: cripple by cutting the hamstring
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