I. ˈhem noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle High German hemmen to hem in, Armenian kamel to press
Date: before 12th century
1. : a border of a cloth article doubled back and stitched down
2. : rim , margin
bright green hem of reeds about the ponds — R. M. Lockley
II. verb
( hemmed ; hem·ming )
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to finish with a hem
b. : border , edge
2. : to surround in a restrictive manner : confine — usually used with in
hemmed in by enemy troops
intransitive verb
: to make a hem in sewing
• hem·mer noun
III. ˈhem intransitive verb
( hemmed ; hem·ming )
Date: 15th century
1. : to utter the sound represented by hem
hemmed and hawed before answering
2. : equivocate
the administration hemmed and hawed over the students' demands
IV. usually read as ˈhem interjection
Etymology: imitative
— often used to indicate a vocalized pause in speaking