The edge of a piece of fabric that's been folded and sewn to finish it neatly, or to fold and sew this edge.
From Old English 'hem' or 'hemm,' possibly related to 'hamm' meaning a border or enclosure. Sewing terminology that's remained mostly unchanged for over a thousand years.
A hem's job is to seal the edge of fabric so it doesn't unravel—when you're hemming pants, you're doing the same basic technique that has kept clothes from falling apart since humans first invented sewing.
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