From 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'