2246: ham & hambone Feb 7, 2021

Ham has been strongly associated with the theatre since the late 19th century. A couple of different phrases popular at the time such as 'ham-handed' (clumsy) and 'hamfatter' (low quality) were used generically, but these became connected with low-caliber actors and performances, especially with regard to minstrel shows. This led to the sense of 'ham' or 'hammy' today as 'overacting' or just generally exaggerated, also found in the phrase 'going ham (on...)'. While this would often connote anything done in an amateur way, the term 'hambone' meaning 'inferior actor' is a remnant of this, and is still associated as a description of often exaggerated aspects of black culture.