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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Hem \Hem\ (h[e^]m), pron. [OE., fr. AS. him, heom, dative pl.
of. h[=e] he. See {He}, {They}.]
Them [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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Hem \Hem\, v. i. [[root]15. See {Hem}, interj.]
To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to
hesitate in speaking. "Hem, and stroke thy beard." --Shak.
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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.
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Cough or cry hem, if anybody come. --Shak.
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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.
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Hem \Hem\, n. [AS. hem, border, margin; cf. Fries. h[aum]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 it and prevent raveling.
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2. Border; edge; margin. "Hem of the sea." --Shak.
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3. A border made on sheet-metal ware by doubling over the
edge of the sheet, to stiffen it and remove the sharp
edge.
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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.
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2. To border; to edge
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All the skirt about
Was hemmed with golden fringe. --Spenser.
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{To hem about}, {To hem around}, or {To hem 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.
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