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

hemstitch traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English hem

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhemUsed to fill in the gap of a pause with a...
2Middle EnglishhemThird-person plural accusative pronoun: them;...
3Old Englishhemhem, border
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...

via English stitch

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstitchA single pass of a needle in sewing; the loop or...
2Middle Englishsticchen
3Old Englishstiċċan
4Proto-Germanicstikjanąto stab, stick, prick
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kem-