a Saxon word signifying a place of dwelling, a house, a village, or town; as in the word hamlet, and in such names as Waltham, Buckingham, Nottingham, &c. It is the same as the Scottish hame for home.

a town of France, department of Somme, in a marshy plain 15 miles S.S.E. of Peronne. It is chiefly celebrated for its strong fortress, used as a state prison. In 1830 Prince Polignac and the other ministers of Charles X. were incarcerated here; and more recently Louis Napoleon, the present Emperor of France. Pop. of town, about 2000.

the thigh of a beast; particularly of a hog; but more particularly applied to the thigh of that animal when cured. The process of curing is performed either by steeping in brine, or by rubbing in bay-salt. It is usual to rub a little powdered saltpetre over the hams before salting; and they are often flavoured with brown sugar or treacle. Wet salting requires about three weeks, and dry salting a week longer. Hams are also made of mutton and beef. The final operation is that of smoking.