"meat of a hog's hind leg used for food," 1637, from O.E. hamm "hollow or bend of the knee," from P.Gmc. *kham- (cf. O.N. höm, M.Du. hamme), from PIE *konemo- "shin bone," originally "be crooked" (cf. Gk. kneme "part between the knee and ankle," O.Ir. cnaim "bone"). Ham-fisted (1928) was originally in reference to pilots who were heavy on the controls.

I wonder if place names like Nottingham take their name endings from a river bend.

Edit:

I looked on Google Earth at several towns and cities in England whose names end in ham and all of them I looked at seemed to be at significant river bends, so I am thinking I guessed right.

Last edited by TEd Remington; 12/02/2005 12:36 PM.