Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
HEM
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle High German hemmen to hem in, Armenian kamel to press Date: before 12th century a border of a cloth article doubled back and stitched down, rim , margin ,
II. verb (hemmed; hemming)
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. to finish with a hem, border , edge , to surround in a restrictive manner ; confine , intransitive verb to make a hem in sewing, hemmer noun
III. intransitive verb (hemmed; hemming)
Date: 15th century
to utter the sound represented by hem , equivocate ,
IV. interjection
Etymology: imitative — often used to indicate a vocalized pause in speaking