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. [1913 Webster]
"Cough or cry hem, if anybody come." [1913 Webster]

Hem, n.

An utterance or sound of the voice, hem or hm, often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention. Spectator. [1913 Webster]

Hem, v. i. [Hem, interj.].

To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to hesitate in speaking. Shak. [1913 Webster]

Hem, n. [AS. hem, border, margin; cf. Fries. hämel, Prov. G. hammel hem of mire or dirt.].

The edge or border of a garment or cloth, doubled over and sewed, to strengthen it and prevent raveling. [1913 Webster]

Border; edge; margin. Shak. [1913 Webster]

A border made on sheet-metal ware by doubling over the edge of the sheet, to stiffen it and remove the sharp edge. [1913 Webster]

Hem, v. t.

To form a hem or border to; to fold and sew down the edge of. Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]

To border; to edge [1913 Webster]
"All the skirt about
Was hemmed with golden fringe." [1913 Webster]

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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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Hem, n. & v.
--n. the border of a piece of cloth, esp. a cut edge turned under and sewn down.
--v.tr. (hemmed, hemming) turn down and sew in the edge of (a piece of cloth etc.).

Idiom

hem in confine; restrict the movement of.

Hem, int., n., & v.
--int. calling attention or expressing hesitation by a slight cough or clearing of the throat.
--n. an utterance of this.
--v.intr. (hemmed, hemming) say hem; hesitate in speech.

Idiom

hem and haw = hum and haw (see HUM(1)).

Etymology

imit.

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THESAURUS

Hem
adjoin, bank, bar, beading, befringe, begird, beset, bind, binding, board, border, bordering, bordure, bound, box, box in, box up, brim, brink, brow, bulkhead in, cage, circle, circumscribe, close in, coast, confine, corral, cramp, define, edge, edging, encircle, encompass, enframe, envelop, falter, featheredge, fence, fimbria, fimbriation, flange, flounce, frame, frill, frilling, fringe, furbelow, galloon, gird, girdle, halt, haw, hedge, hem and haw, hem in, hesitate, hum, hum and haw, immure, keep from spreading, keep within bounds, labellum, labium, labrum, lap, ledge, limb, limbus, limit, line, lip, list, localize, mammer, march, marge, margin, marginate, motif, narrow, pale, palisade, pen, perimeter, periphery, picket, purfle, purl, qualify, ragged edge, rail, restrict, rim, ring, round, ruffle, selvage, set off, shore, shut, side, sideline, skirt, skirting, stammer, stint, stumble, stutter, surround, tighten, trim, trimming, valance, verge, wall, welt

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ROGET THESAURUS

Hem

Edge
N edge, verge, brink, brow, brim, margin, border, confine, skirt, rim, flange, side, mouth, jaws, chops, chaps, fauces, lip, muzzle, threshold, door, porch, portal, coast, shore, frame, fringe, flounce, frill, list, trimming, edging, skirting, hem, selvedge, welt, furbelow, valance, gimp, border, marginal, skirting, labial, labiated, marginated.

Fold
VB fold, double, plicate, plait, crease, wrinkle, crinkle, crankle, curl, cockle up, cocker, rimple, rumple, flute, frizzle, frounce, rivel, twill, corrugate, ruffle, crimple, crumple, pucker, turn down, double down, down under, tuck, ruck, hem, gather.

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