GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 6 definitions

      
Hem (hĕm), pron. [OE., fr. AS. him, heom, dative pl. of. hē he. See He, They.] Them [Obs.]  Chaucer.

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Hem, interj. An onomatopoetic word used as an expression of hesitation, doubt, etc. It is often a sort of voluntary half cough, loud or subdued, and would perhaps be better expressed by hm.

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Cough or cry hem, if anybody come. Shak.

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Hem, n. An utterance or sound of the voice, hem or hm, often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention. “His morning hems.”  Spectator.

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Hem, v. i. [√15.  See Hem, interj.] To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to hesitate in speaking. “Hem, and stroke thy beard.”  Shak.

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Hem, n. [AS. hem, border, margin; cf. Fries. hämel, Prov. G. hammel hem of mire or dirt.]
1. The edge or border of a garment or cloth, doubled over and sewed, to strengthen it and prevent raveling.

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2. Border; edge; margin. “Hem of the sea.”  Shak.

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3. A border made on sheet-metal ware by doubling over the edge of the sheet, to stiffen it and remove the sharp edge.

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Hem, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hemmed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hemming.]
1. To form a hem or border to; to fold and sew down the edge of.  Wordsworth.

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2. To border; to edge

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All the skirt about

Was hemmed with golden fringe. Spenser.

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To hem about, To hem around, or To hem in, to inclose and confine; to surround; to environ.  “With valiant squadrons round about to hem.” Fairfax. “Hemmed in to be a spoil to tyranny.” Daniel. -- To hem out, to shut out.  “You can not hem me out of London.”  J. Webster.

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