The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

hem
    n 1: the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge
         that has been doubled under and stitched down; "the hem of
         her dress was stained"; "let down the hem"; "he stitched
         weights into the curtain's hem"; "it seeped along the hem
         of his jacket"
    2: the utterance of a sound similar to clearing the throat;
       intended to get attention, express hesitancy, fill a pause,
       hide embarrassment, warn a friend, etc. [syn: hem, ahem]
    v 1: fold over and sew together to provide with a hem; "hem my
         skirt"
    2: utter `hem' or `ahem'