A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Hem, n. Also: heme. [ME. and OE. (once) hem(m.]
1. The border or edge of a garment or piece of armour. Also, a fringe or trimming for the edge of a garment.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xliv. 34.
A woman that of tweching Of Cristis heme … Gat hele quyt 1511-12 Treas. Acc. IV. 231.
To Robert Spetele, tailȝour, ... for making of hir clethingis, ... chaffronis, hemmys, rubanis [etc.] 15.. Dunb. App. viii. 14.
All drest with dyamantis … , Reverst with gold in every hem 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. lii.
It drawis stra, flox, or hemmis of claithis to it(2) 1513 Doug. xii. vi. 172.
Betwix the helm … And vmast roll or hem of hys curas
2. The hem or outer part of a millstone. 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 370.
Mylne staynis, ilk stayne … beand twelf inche in the eye and ten inche in the hem 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 137.
The lyand stane [of a mill] at the hem sex ynsche 1624 Peebles B. Rec. 365.
The overstane foure inches alyk at ey and heme
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Hem n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/hem_n>