hem

Hem is a term with several related meanings in English and as a proper noun in some contexts.

As a noun, a hem is the finished edge of a textile item created by folding the edge under and stitching it. Hems are used to prevent fraying and to provide a neat, durable finish. They can be straight or decorative, and common types include turned-under, blind, and rolled hems.

As a verb, to hem means to sew a hem or to surround or enclose something. The phrase hem in is used to describe enclosing, confining, or restricting something or someone.

In idiomatic English, the expression to hem and haw means to hesitate or equivocate, often in speech or decision-making.

In medical terminology, the forms hemo-, hema-, or hem- are used as combining forms related to blood, derived from the Greek haima. They appear in words such as hematology, hemoglobin, and hemorrhage, with the exact form varying by linguistic context.

Geographically and culturally, Hem is also used as a place name in several regions and as a surname. The usage as a toponym or surname is separate from the sewing-related sense and reflects diverse linguistic origins.

Etymology and usage notes: the sewing sense of hem derives from Old English hem, describing a border or edge, and later extended to the finished fabric edge. The broader uses of hem- in medicine and in phrases like hem in reflect metaphorical or metaphorical enclosure or relation to blood.