'hamstring' originates from Old English elements 'ham' and 'streng' (or 'string'), where 'ham' meant 'the back of the knee or thigh' and 'streng' meant 'string' or 'sinew'.

'ham' and 'streng' were combined in Old English (e.g. forms like 'hamstreng'); Middle English gave forms such as 'hamstring(e)', which eventually became the modern English word 'hamstring'.

Initially it referred specifically to the tendon (or the group of tendons/muscles) at the back of the thigh; over time it also came to be used as a verb meaning 'to disable by injuring the hamstring' and, figuratively, 'to cripple or severely restrict'.