Hēm'stitch, v. t.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. HEMSTITCHED (hēm'sticht); p. pr. & vb. n. HEMSTITCHING.] [hem and stitch.] To ornament at the head of a hem by drawing out a few parallel threads, and fastening the cross-threads in successive small clusters; as, to hemstitch a handkerchief.