Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) 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. 2. (v. t.) To lame or disable by cutting the tendons of the ham or knee; to hough; hence, to cripple; to incapacitate; to disable.

Multi-Version Concordance Hamstring (2 Occurrences) Genesis 49:6 My soul, don't come into their council. My glory, don't be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their self-will they hamstrung cattle. (See RSV) Joshua 11:6 Yahweh said to Joshua, "Don't be afraid because of them; for tomorrow at this time, I will deliver them up all slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire." (WEB NAS RSV NIV)