hem
UK: hɛm | US: hɛm
n. the edge of a piece of cloth that is folded and sewn
vt. to fold and sew the edge of fabric
vt. to surround or enclose something (often used metaphorically, e.g., "hemmed in by rules")
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"Hem" traces back to Old English hemm, meaning "border or edge of cloth," likely derived from Proto-Germanic hamjam. It shares roots with Old Norse hemja ("to restrain") and German Saum ("hem"), reflecting the idea of a boundary or enclosure. The verb sense of "surrounding" evolved metaphorically from the physical act of sewing edges.
She carefully folded the hem of her dress before sewing it.
The curtains were too long, so I had to hem them.
The city is hemmed in by mountains on all sides.
His strict upbringing hemmed him in with countless rules.
A golden thread adorned the hem of the royal robe.