Cuff vs. Hem — What's the Difference?

A cuff is a layer of fabric at the lower edge of the sleeve of a garment (shirt, coat, jacket, etc.) at the wrist, or at the ankle end of a trouser leg. The function of turned-back cuffs is to protect the cloth of the garment from fraying, and, when frayed, to allow the cuffs to be readily repaired or replaced, without changing the garment.

A hem in sewing is a garment finishing method, where the edge of a piece of cloth is folded and sewn to prevent unravelling of the fabric and to adjust the length of the piece in garments, such as at the end of the sleeve or the bottom of the garment.

A fold used as trimming at the bottom of a sleeve.

An edge or border on a piece of cloth, especially a finished edge, as for a garment or curtain, made by folding an edge under and stitching it down.

A band, often having an opening with a button closure, at the bottom of a sleeve.

The height or level of the bottom edge of a skirt, dress, or coat; a hemline.

The turned-up fold at the bottom of a trouser leg.

A short cough or clearing of the throat made especially to gain attention, warn another, hide embarrassment, or fill a pause in speech.

The band at the top of a sock.

To fold back and stitch down the edge of.

The part of a glove that extends over the wrist.

To surround and shut in; enclose

A bracelet consisting of a curved, open-ended band, as of metal or resin, that fits the wrist firmly without a clasp.

To utter a hem.

A handcuff.

To hesitate in speech.

(Medicine) An inflatable band, usually wrapped around the upper arm, that is used along with a sphygmomanometer in measuring arterial blood pressure.

Used to fill in the gap of a pause with a vocalized sound.

A blow or slap with the open hand.

An utterance or sound of the voice like "hem", often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention.

To form a cuff or cuffs on.

(sewing) The border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together to finish the edge and prevent it from fraying.

To put handcuffs on.

A rim or margin of something.

To strike with or as if with the open hand; slap.

In sheet metal design, a rim or edge folded back on itself to create a smooth edge and to increase strength or rigidity.

(obsolete) glove; mitten

To make the sound expressed by the word hem; to hesitate in speaking.

The end of a shirt sleeve that covers the wrist

To make a hem.

The end of a pants leg, folded up

(transitive) To put hem on an article of clothing, to edge or put a border on something.

Handcuffs

(transitive) To shut in, enclose, confine; to surround something or someone in a confining way.

A blow, especially with the open hand; a box; a slap.

Obsolete form of 'em

(transitive) To furnish with cuffs.

Them

(transitive) To handcuff.

An onomatopoetic word used as an expression of hesitation, doubt, etc. It is often a sort of voluntary half cough, loud or subdued, and would perhaps be better expressed by hm.

(transitive) To hit, as a reproach, particularly with the open palm to the head; to slap.

An utterance or sound of the voice, hem or hm, often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention.

(intransitive) To fight; to scuffle; to box.

The edge or border of a garment or cloth, doubled over and sewed, to strengthen it and prevent raveling.

To buffet.

Border; edge; margin.

To strike; esp., to smite with the palm or flat of the hand; to slap.

A border made on sheet-metal ware by doubling over the edge of the sheet, to stiffen it and remove the sharp edge.

To buffet.

To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to hesitate in speaking.

To fight; to scuffle; to box.

To form a hem or border to; to fold and sew down the edge of.

A blow; esp.,, a blow with the open hand; a box; a slap.

To border; to edge

The fold at the end of a sleeve; the part of a sleeve turned back from the hand.

Lap that forms a cloth border doubled back and stitched down

Any ornamental appendage at the wrist, whether attached to the sleeve of the garment or separate; especially, in modern times, such an appendage of starched linen, or a substitute for it of paper, or the like.

Fold over and sew together to provide with a hem;

The lap consisting of a turned-back hem encircling the end of the sleeve or leg

Utter `hem' or `ahem'

Shackle that consists of a metal loop that can be locked around the wrist; usually used in pairs

Hit with the hand

Confine or restrain with or as if with manacles or handcuffs;