8  definitions  found 
 
  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  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  hem 
  n  :  a  cloth  border  doubled  back  and  stitched  down 
  v  :  utter  hem"  or  ahem" 
 
  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). 
 

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