[Idiom] Ham-handed

[Gintas]

I have the question regarding the origin of Ham-handed (ham-fisted).
First recorded 1876: newspaperarchive.com

Did it originate from earlier expression? ham-like a hand; a hand like a ham?
'If there be, as we devoutly believe, honour among thieves, sure we are it
is alloyed with envy: a men with a hand like a ham cannot complacently
view the snaky palm of a more perfect brother.' Blackwood's Eidinburgh
magazine. 39 t. 1836

Best regards,
Gintas

 

[Tdol]

It's all the same idea.

 

[Gintas]

It's all the same idea.

Does it mean short form of hand like a ham?

 

[Tdol]

The SOED suggests that ham-fisted/handed are later- it has them down as early twentieth century, but you have found an earlier example. I think that hand like a ham is a description of the size and shape rather than the clumsiness, so ham-fisted/handed may have come from this, but there has been a change in meaning for me. You don't have to have hands like a ham to be ham-fisted.