hames

British  

/ heɪmz /

noun

1. informal to spoil through clumsiness or ineptitude

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Etymology

Origin of hames

of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Sometimes, mounted on the sawhorse in the harness-room, with collars and hames and tugs hung all about him, Jody rode out beyond the room.

From "The Red Pony" by John Steinbeck

People along the street set up a shout when they beheld Neale O'Neil leap right down on the pole of the wagon and stretch out perilously to seize the reins at the hames.

From The Corner House Girls at School by Owen, R. Emmett (Robert Emmett)

A short rein looped over the check hook or the hames to keep the horse's head up; Ð called in the United States a checkrein.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

I wish your hames ye may never see; Ye’ve stown the bridle off my naig, And I can neither fight nor flee.

From Ballads of Scottish Tradition and Romance Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - Third Series by Sidgwick, Frank

The harness was a piece of ingenious patchwork, fitted with hames instead of collars.

From Through stained glass by Chamberlain, George Agnew