Where Does the Saying Ham-Fisted Come from?

From ham (“overacting inferior performer; actor of low grade; incompetent pugilist”) +‎ fisted.

Where did the phrase ham-fisted come from?

Ham-fisted (adj.) in reference to hard-hitting characters is from 1905; ham-handed "coarse, clumsy" is by 1896. With hammen ifalden "with folded hams" was a Middle English way of saying "kneeling." Ham also had a sports slangsense of "incompetent pugilist" (1888), perhaps from the notion in ham-fisted.

What does the phrase ham-fisted mean?

English Language Learners Definition of ham-fisted

: awkward or clumsy : ham-handed. See the full definition for ham-fisted in the English Language Learners Dictionary.