Hem (?), pron. [OE., fr. AS. him, heom, dative pl. of. h he. See He, They.]
Them
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Hem, n. [AS. hem, border, margin; cf. Fries. hamel, 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.
© Webster 1913.
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, ∨ 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.
© Webster 1913.