4 entries under this word
n. [A-S. hem, hemm, Fries. heam, W. hem, margin, Prov. Ger. hamel, hämmel, hem of mire or dirt.]
Sense 1. The border of a garment, doubled and sewed to strengthen it and prevent the raveling of the edge.
Sense 2. Border; edge; margin. “Hem of the sea.” Shak.
Sense 3. A particular sound of the human voice, expressed by the word hem, and often indicative of hesitation or doubt.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. HEMMED; p. pr. & vb. n. HEMMING.] [Fries. heamen. See supra.]
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.
An exclamation whose utterance is a sort of voluntary half cough, loud or subdued, as the emotion may suggest. It would perhaps be better expressed by hm.
v. i. [D. hemmen, hummen. See HEM, interj.] To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to hesitate in speaking.