[ham-bohn] /ˈhæmˌboʊn/

noun, Theater.
(especially in vaudeville) a performer made up in blackface and using a stereotyped black dialect.

1855, “bone of a ham,” from ham (n.1) + bone (n.). Meaning “inferior actor or performer” is from 1893, an elaboration of ham (n.2).


: The night’s most ebullient winner was Finkel, who plays the hambone attorney


A person who fancies himself an actor; histrionic self-advertiser; ham: Every hambone from the deep sticks was constrained to make a speech for the benefit of the cameras (1893+)


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