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Hamstring vs Calf - What's the difference?

hamstring | calf |

In anatomy terms the difference between hamstring and calf

is that hamstring is one of the great tendons situated in each side of the ham, or space back of the knee, and connected with the muscles of the back of the thigh while calf is the back of the leg below the knee.

As a verb hamstring

is to lame or disable by cutting the tendons of the ham or knee; to hough; hence, to cripple; to incapacitate; to disable.

hamstring

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (anatomy) One of the great tendons situated in each side of the ham, or space back of the knee, and connected with the muscles of the back of the thigh.
  • (informal) The biceps femoris muscle.
  • * 2010', Adam Garett, "Fried Hams", ''Reps!'' ' 17 :23
    • Developing muscle around both sides of a joint (think biceps and triceps, abs and low back, quads and hamstrings ) should be one of your primary training considerations because strength on each side leads to lower injury rates.

    Synonyms

    * (biceps femoris) hams

    Verb

  • To lame or disable by cutting the tendons of the ham or knee; to hough; hence, to cripple; to incapacitate; to disable.
  • * So have they hamstrung the valor of the subject by seeking to effeminate us all at home. -

    • calf

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) cealf, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A young cow or bull.
  • Leather made of the skin of the calf; especially, a fine, light-coloured leather used in bookbinding.
  • A young elephant, seal or whale (also used of some other animals).
  • A chunk of ice broken off of a larger glacier, ice shelf, or iceberg.
    • (Kane)
  • A small island, near a larger island.
    • the Calf of Man
  • A cabless railroad engine.
  • (informal, dated) An awkward or silly boy or young man; any silly person; a dolt.
  • * Drayton
    • some silly, doting, brainless calf
    Synonyms
    *
    Derived terms
    * * * *
    Related terms
    *
    See also
    * cow * veal

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) kalfi, possibly derived from the same Germanic root as ().

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (anatomy) The back of the leg below the knee.
  • The muscle in the back of the leg below the knee.
  • * 1988 , Steve Holman, "Christian Conquers Columbus", , 47 (6): 28-34.
    • Sure, his calves are a little weak, but the rest of his physique is so overwhelming, he should place high.
    (-)

    Anagrams

    * English nouns with irregular plurals English terms with multiple etymologies ----