noun
- Nautical.
- a wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered.
- the entire steering apparatus of a ship.
- the angle with the fore-and-aft line made by a rudder when turned: 15-degree helm.
- the place or post of control: A stern taskmaster was at the helm of the company.
verb (used with object)
- to steer; direct.
noun
- Also heaume. Also called great helm. a medieval helmet, typically formed as a single cylindrical piece with a flat or raised top, completely enclosing the head.
- Archaic. a helmet.
verb (used with object)
- to furnish or cover with a helmet.
noun
- nautical
- the wheel, tiller, or entire apparatus by which a vessel is steered
- the position of the helm: that is, on the side of the keel opposite from that of the rudder
- a position of leadership or control (esp in the phrase at the helm)
verb
- (tr) to direct or steer
noun
- an archaic or poetic word for helmet
verb
- (tr) archaic, or poetic to supply with a helmet
“a helmet,” c.1200, from Old English helm “protection, covering; crown, helmet,” and perhaps also from cognate Old Norse hjalmr, from Proto-Germanic *helmaz “protective covering,” from PIE *kel- “to cover, to hide” (see cell). Italian elmo, Spanish yelmo are from Germanic.
“handle of a tiller,” late 13c., from Old English helma “rudder; position of guidance, control,” from Proto-Germanic *halbma- (cf. Old Norse hjalm, Old High German helmo, German Helm “handle”), from PIE *kelp- “to hold, grasp” (see helve).
see at the helm.