Hamstrung

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
     [1913 Webster]
  


           So have they hamstrung the valor of the subject by
           seeking to effeminate us all at home.    --Milton.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  hamstrung
       See {hamstring}

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [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
       [also: {hamstrung}]