Hambones

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A pair of hollowed-out parts of a pig's leg, often used in cooking for flavoring dishes
2. A seasoning ingredient made from the knees or hocks of pigs, commonly added to soups and stews for taste
3. The bone of a pig's leg that is typically used to impart a savory quality to various recipes

Etymology: "Hambones" is the plural of "hambone," which is simply a compound of "ham" and "bone." The "ham" here refers to the thigh or hindquarter of a pig, the cut that becomes cured meat, and the "bone" is the skeletal piece left inside it. A hambone is therefore the bone of that joint, and the plural names more than one of them.