hemmed

Variant of hem

hem definition

hem (hem)

noun

  1. the border on a garment or piece of cloth, usually made by folding the edge and sewing it down
  2. any border, edge, or margin

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to MLowG ham, enclosed piece of land < IE base *kem-, to compress, impede > hamper

transitive verb hemmed, hemming hem′·ming

to fold back the edge of and sew down; put a hem or hems on
hem Idioms

hem in

or hem around or hem about
  1. to encircle; surround
  2. to confine or restrain

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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