K Kruger
Senior Cook
A ham is a rear leg of a pig. A fresh ham is one that has not been smoked or cured, i.e., it's raw. If the shank end (the narrow end) is removed it's not actually 'whole' but they are often sold this way. If a whole ham is cut roughly in half crosswise, then one is often labeled 'fresh ham shank end' and the other 'fresh ham, butt end', or something similar.