Hypertext Webster Gateway: "hem"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Hem
of a garment, the fringe of a garment. The Jews attached much
importance to these, because of the regulations in Num. 15:38,
39. These borders or fringes were in process of time enlarged so
as to attract special notice (Matt. 23:5). The hem of Christ's
garment touched (9:20; 14:36; Luke 8:44).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Hem \Hem\, v. i. [???. See {Hem}, interj.]
To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to
hesitate in speaking. ``Hem, and stroke thy beard.'' --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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}, {around}, or {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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Hem \Hem\, pron. [OE., fr. AS. him, heom, dative pl. of. h? he.
See {He}, {They}.]
Them [Obs.] --Chaucer.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
hem
n : lap that forms a cloth border doubled back and stitched down
v 1: fold over and sew together to provide with a hem; "hem my
skirt"
2: utter "hem" or "ahem"
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