helm

- 12 dictionary results

helm

1 [helm]

–noun

Nautical.

a.	a wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered.

b.	the entire steering apparatus of a ship.

c.	the angle with the fore-and-aft line made by a rudder when turned: 15-degree helm.

2.	the place or post of control: A stern taskmaster was at the helm of the company.

–verb (used with object)

3.	to steer; direct.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME helme, OE helma; c. MHG halme, helm handle, ON hjalm rudder

Related forms:

helmless, adjective

helm

2 [helm]

–noun

1.	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.

2.	Archaic. a helmet.

–verb (used with object)

3.	to furnish or cover with a helmet.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE; c. D, G helm; akin to OE helan to cover. See hull ¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To helm

helm¹ (hělm)

Nautical The steering gear of a ship, especially the tiller or wheel.
A position of leadership or control: at the helm of the government.

tr.v. helmed, helm·ing, helms
To take the helm of; steer or direct.

[Middle English, from Old English helma.]

helm² (hělm)

n. A helmet.
tr.v. helmed, helm·ing, helms
To cover or furnish with a helmet.

[Middle English, from Old English; see kel-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Helm

Helm\, n. See Haulm, straw.

Helm

Helm\, n. [OE. helme, AS. helma rudder; akin to D. & G. helm, Icel. hj[=a]lm, and perh. to E. helve.]

1. (Naut.) The apparatus by which a ship is steered, comprising rudder, tiller, wheel, etc.; -- commonly used of the tiller or wheel alone.

2. The place or office of direction or administration. "The helm of the Commonwealth." --Melmoth.

3. One at the place of direction or control; a steersman; hence, a guide; a director.

The helms o' the State, who care for you like fathers. --Shak.

4. [Cf. Helve.] A helve. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Helm amidships, when the tiller, rudder, and keel are in the same plane.

Helm aport, when the tiller is borne over to the port side of the ship.

Helm astarboard, when the tiller is borne to the starboard side.

Helm alee, Helm aweather, when the tiller is borne over to the lee or to the weather side.

Helm hard alee or hard aport, hard astarboard, etc., when the tiller is borne over to the extreme limit.

Helm port, the round hole in a vessel's counter through which the rudderstock passes.

Helm down, helm alee.

Helm up, helm aweather.

To ease the helm, to let the tiller come more amidships, so as to lessen the strain on the rudder.

To feel the helm, to obey it.

To right the helm, to put it amidships.

To shift the helm, to bear the tiller over to the corresponding position on the opposite side of the vessel. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Helm

Helm\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Helmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Helming.] To steer; to guide; to direct. [R.]

The business he hath helmed. --Shak.

A wild wave . . . overbears the bark, And him that helms it. --Tennyson.

Helm

Helm\, n. [AS. See Helmet.]

1. A helmet. [Poetic]

2. A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.

Helm

Helm\, v. t. To cover or furnish with a helm or helmet. [Perh. used only as a past part. or part. adj.]

She that helmed was in starke stours. --Chaucer.

Language Translation for : helm

Spanish: timón,

German: das Steuerruder,

Japanese: 舵

More Translations »

helm

"tiller," from O.E. helma "position of guidance, control," from P.Gmc. *khelman- (cf. O.N. hjalm, N.H.G. helm "handle").

helm

see at the helm.

HELM
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