noun
ham
The fleshy rear portion of the thigh.
She squats on her hams to get closer to the ground.
Etymology
The inherited word names the leg’s bending region. This anatomical sense continues in reference to the fleshy rear part of the thigh.
More examples
- His hams ache after the long uphill hike.
- The catcher settles onto his hams behind home plate.
- She feels a cramp in her left ham.
Forms
ham · hams
Similar words
- thigh
- Thigh names the whole upper leg, not just its back.
- hamstring
- Hamstring specifies a muscle or tendon at the thigh's back.