1. [n]  lap that forms a cloth border doubled back and stitched down
2. [v]  utter"hem" or"ahem"
3. [v]  fold over and sew together to provide with a hem; "hem my skirt"

1. \Hem\, pron. [OE., fr. AS. him, heom, dative pl. of. h? he.
   See {He}, {They}.]
   Them [Obs.] --Chaucer.
   
   

2. \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.
   
   

3. \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.
   
   

4. \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.
   
   

5. \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.
   
   

6. \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.
   
   

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).