ham
UK[hæm]US[hæm]
n
Meat from the upper part of a pig's leg, preserved with salt or smoke.
n
An actor who performs in an exaggerated or over-the-top manner.
v
To overact or perform in an exaggerated way.
Etymology
The word 'ham' has a direct lineage from the Old English 'hamm', referring specifically to the bend of the knee or the hollow behind the knee. This term is of Germanic origin, related to Old High German 'hama' and Old Norse 'höm', both with similar anatomical meanings. By the 15th century, the meaning in English had transferred from the anatomical joint to the meat cut from the corresponding upper leg of a pig. The theatrical sense of 'ham', meaning an overacting performer, emerged in American English in the late 19th century, likely derived from 'hamfatter', a term for a low-grade actor, which itself referenced a cheap minstrel-show makeup made from ham fat.
Analysis
The word 'ham' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It functions as a single, indivisible lexical unit in modern English.
Examples
She made sandwiches with thick slices of honey-roasted ham.
The actor was such a ham, constantly mugging for the camera.
He tends to ham it up whenever he's on stage.