the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down
<noun.artifact> the hem of her dress was stained let down the hem he stitched weights into the curtain's hem it seeped along the hem of his jacket
the utterance of a sound similar to clearing the throat; intended to get attention, express hesitancy, fill a pause, hide embarrassment, warn a friend, etc.
<noun.communication> [ verb ]
fold over and sew together to provide with a hem
<verb.contact> hem my skirt
utter `hem' or `ahem'
<verb.communication>
Hem \Hem\, v. i. [[root]15. See {Hem}, interj.] To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to hesitate in speaking. ``Hem, and stroke thy beard.'' --Shak.
Hem \Hem\, n. [AS. hem, border, margin; cf. Fries. h["a]mel, 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.
2. Border; edge; margin. ``Hem of the sea.'' --Shak.
3. A border made on sheet-metal ware by doubling over the edge of the sheet, to stiffen it and remove the sharp edge.
Hem \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.
2. To border; to edge
All the skirt about Was hemmed with golden fringe. --Spenser.
{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.
Hem \Hem\ (h[e^]m), pron. [OE., fr. AS. him, heom, dative pl. of. h[=e] he. See {He}, {They}.] Them [Obs.] --Chaucer.
Hem \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.
Cough or cry hem, if anybody come. --Shak.
Hem \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.
The commission said Tuesday the recalled model is number S7417. The brown, 14-inch stuffed bear is clad in a maroon print dress trimmed with pink and blue ribbons at the hem and three heart-shaped buttons sewn on the front.
"Right here," says the analyst, slowly raising the hem of her skirt from midcalf to a few inches above her knee.