hemline
UK[ˈhemlaɪn]US[ˈhemlaɪn]
n
the level of the lower edge of a piece of clothing such as a skirt or dress
Morpheme Breakdown
hem
line
hem
edge
line
line
Etymology
the word 'hemline' is a modern compound, formed from two old english roots. 'hem' originates from the old english 'hemm', meaning a border or edge of cloth, which is related to the middle low german 'hemme', meaning 'enclosure'. 'line' derives from the latin 'linea', meaning a linen thread or string, which evolved to signify a mark or contour. the compound 'hemline' logically combines these elements to denote the contour or boundary formed by the hem of a garment, specifically referring to its vertical position as a key element of fashion.
Analysis
Structure: hem (edge) + line (line)
hem (old english, functional role: root, meaning the border or edge of a piece of cloth); line (latin via old english, functional role: root, meaning a long, thin mark or contour)
Examples
the fashion designer decided to raise the hemline for the spring collection.
she carefully measured the hemline of her new skirt to ensure it was even.
hemline lengths often fluctuate with changing trends.