Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hemstitch” come from?

hemstitch (English) comes from English hem, from Middle English hem, from Old English hem, from Proto-West Germanic hammjan, from Proto-Germanic hamjaną, from Proto-Indo-European kem- — to press together; to hinder, to hamper; to...

hemstitch (English): an embroidery stitch in which parallel threads...

Definitions

  1. an embroidery stitch in which parallel threads...

Ancestry of “hemstitch”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhemUsed to fill in the gap of a pause with a...
2Middle EnglishhemThird-person plural accusative pronoun: them;...
3Old Englishhem—
4Proto-West GermanichammjanTo press; pinch; To obstruct; restrict; restrain;...
5Proto-GermanichamjanąTo press; pinch; To obstruct; restrict; restrain;...
6Proto-Indo-Europeankem-to press together; to hinder, to hamper; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kem- →