Part 696

Ham"mer*head` (-hd`), n. 1. (Zoˆl.) A shark of the genus Sphyrna or ZygÊna, having the eyes set on projections from the sides of the head, which gives it a hammer shape. The Sphyrna zygÊna is found in the North Atlantic. Called also hammer fish, and balance fish.

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2. (Zoˆl.) A fresh-water fish; the stone-roller.

3. (Zoˆl.) An African fruit bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus); -- so called from its large blunt nozzle.

Ham"mer*kop (hm"mr*kp), n. (Zoˆl.) A bird of the Heron family; the umber.

Ham"mer-less, a. (Firearms) Without a visible hammer; -- said of a gun having a cock or striker concealed from sight, and out of the way of an accidental touch.

Ham"mer*man (-man), n.; pl. Hammermen (-men). A hammerer; a forgeman.

||Ham`mo*chry"sos (hm`m*kr"ss), n. [L., fr. Gr. "ammo`chrysos; "a`mmos, ||'a`mmos, sand + chryso`s gold.] A stone with spangles of gold color ||in it.

Ham"mock (hm"mk), n. [A word of Indian origin: cf. Sp. hamaca. Columbus, in the Narrative of his first voyage, says: "A great many Indians in canoes came to the ship to-day for the purpose of bartering their cotton, and hamacas, or nets, in which they sleep."] 1. A swinging couch or bed, usually made of netting or canvas about six feet long and three feet wide, suspended by clews or cords at the ends.

2. A piece of land thickly wooded, and usually covered with bushes and vines. Used also adjectively; as, hammock land. [Southern U. S.] Bartlett.

Hammock nettings (Naut.), formerly, nets for stowing hammocks; now, more often, wooden boxes or a trough on the rail, used for that purpose.

{ Ha*mose" (h*ms"), Ha"mous (h"ms), }[L. hamus hook.] (Bot.) Having the end hooked or curved.

Ham"per (hm"pr), n. [Contr. fr. hanaper.] A large basket, usually with a cover, used for the packing and carrying of articles; as, a hamper of wine; a clothes hamper; an oyster hamper, which contains two bushels.

Ham"per, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hampered (-prd); p. pr. & vb. n. Hampering.] To put in a hamper.

Ham"per, v. t. [OE. hamperen, hampren, prob. of the same origin as E. hamble.] To put a hamper or fetter on; to shackle; to insnare; to inveigle; to entangle; hence, to impede in motion or progress; to embarrass; to encumber. "Hampered nerves." Blackmore.

A lion hampered in a net.

L'Estrange.

They hamper and entangle our souls.

Tillotson.

Ham"per, n. [See Hamper to shackle.] 1. A shackle; a fetter; anything which impedes. W. Browne.

2. (Naut.) Articles ordinarily indispensable, but in the way at certain times. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Top hamper (Naut.), unnecessary spars and rigging kept aloft.

Ham"shac`kle (hm"shk`'l), v. t. [Ham + shackle.] To fasten (an animal) by a rope binding the head to one of the fore legs; as, to hamshackle a horse or cow; hence, to bind or restrain; to curb.

Ham"ster (-str), n. [G. hamster.] (Zoˆl.) A small European rodent (Cricetus frumentarius). It is remarkable for having a pouch on each side of the jaw, under the skin, and for its migrations.

Ham"string` (hm"strng`), n. (Anat.) 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.

Ham"string`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hamstrung; p. pr. & vb. n. Hamstringing. See String.] 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.

Milton.