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 called great helm. Also 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. an archaic or poetic word for helmet

verb

1. archaic,  (tr) to supply with a helmet

Other Word Forms

• helmless 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

In many ways, this one was the most painful, and not only because Boone said repeatedly in recent weeks that he believed this was the most talented squad he had ever helmed.

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Their front office is helmed by president of baseball operations David Stearns, one of the most heralded executives in the sport.

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The layoffs are the second round that the coffee giant has undertaken since Chief Executive Brian Niccol took the helm roughly a year ago.

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Durban, 52 years old, was part of a new generation of leaders at Silver Lake who took the helm in 2011.

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Its lead independent director, Daniel Schulman, is taking the helm as Verizon tries to shake off concerns it’s falling behind in wireless and broadband.

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