Definition of hamstring

The word "hamstring" has its origin in the Old English phrase "hamstrung," which means "to cut or shorten the sinewy tendon at the back of the knee." This Old English phrase is derived from the words "ham" meaning "upper part of the leg" and "strang" meaning "to stretch" or "to tighten." In the 15th century, the word "hamstring" was used to describe the act of cutting the tendons in the back of the knee, which was a common method of crippling or disabling an enemy soldier or horse. This practice was used to render the victim unable to flee or fight. Today, the word "hamstring" is still used to describe an injury to the hamstring muscles, which are located at the back of the thigh. The term has undergone a significant shift in meaning, but its origins are rooted in the concept of damaging the tendons behind the knee.