helm

¹

[ helm ]

noun

1. Nautical.
   1. a wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered.
   2. the entire steering apparatus of a ship.
   3. 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)

1. to steer; direct.

helm

²

[ helm ]

noun

1. Also 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)

1. to furnish or cover with a helmet.

helm

¹

/ hɛlm /

noun

1. nautical
   1. the wheel, tiller, or entire apparatus by which a vessel is steered
   2. the position of the helm: that is, on the side of the keel opposite from that of the rudder
2. a position of leadership or control (esp in the phrase at the helm )

verb

1. tr to direct or steer

helm

²

/ hɛlm /

noun

1. See helmet
   an archaic or poetic word for helmet

verb

1. archaic.
   tr to supply with a helmet

Derived Forms

• ˈhelmless, adjective

Other Words From

• helmless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of helm¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English helm(e), Old English helma; cognate with Middle High German halme, helm “handle,” Old Norse hjalm “rudder”

Origin of helm²

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch, German helm; akin to Old English helan “to cover”; hull ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of helm¹

Old English helma; related to Old Norse hjalm rudder, Old High German halmo

Origin of helm²

Old English helm; related to helan to cover, Old Norse hjalmr, Gothic hilms, Old High German helm helmet, Sanskrit śárman protection

Idioms and Phrases

see at the helm .

Example Sentences

At the helm of FaZe Clan, he’s helped build out one of the most followed esports organizations in the world.

From TechCrunch

Neuberger took the helm at the NSA’s newly created Cybersecurity Directorate a year ago as part of the agency’s renewed effort to disrupt foreign adversaries and help Americans stay secure.

From TechCrunch

Gaspar would be out of office and they’d likely remove Desmond from the helm of SANDAG, to be replaced with two of their own.

From Voice of San Diego

They also have a steady hand at the helm in veteran manager Dusty Baker.

From FiveThirtyEight

This allowed for an efficient manufacturing process of modular pieces, like extended cheek guards that could be attached to the main helm through hinges.

From Realm of History

He was initially with a group that traveled by motor vehicles, but has spent the past two decades with a horse at his helm.

From The Daily Beast

James Gunn, the director Marvel handpicked to helm the sci-fi opera Guardians of the Galaxy, was facing a similar quandary.

From The Daily Beast

Morbid Anatomy, with Ebenstein at the helm, seems to do it all, from publishing books to leading international trips.

From The Daily Beast

Both of them argue that they were simply burned out after four years at the helm, and it was just time to move on.

From The Daily Beast

She stepped behind the camera in 2012 to helm the Lifetime movie Talhotblond.

From The Daily Beast

Malcolm asked her gently to go back to the helm and keep it jammed hard-a-starboard until they arrived at the left bank.

From Project Gutenberg

It was seen just in time to put the helm a-lee, or we should have run upon it.

From Project Gutenberg

She felt herself but a ship on a sea of troubles, whose helm was guided by that experienced sailor, her cousin Lucy.

From Project Gutenberg

The order was promptly obeyed, and the helm shoved hard a-port, but there was no responsive sheer.

From Project Gutenberg

During all this time Mr Jones sat at the helm of his little boat, and held steadily out to sea.

From Project Gutenberg