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

Unfortunately, Mr. Taylor, who is now 52 years old, doesn’t helm a band often.

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Zimmerman has been president and CEO of Six Flags since last year’s merger with Cedar Fair, where he had been at the helm since January 2018.

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The stumbling block was Lloyd’s of London, the world’s largest insurance marketplace, which Neal helmed for more than six years before stepping down as CEO in January, the people familiar with the matter said.

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Part of that relates to questions about the coming interest-rate decision from the Federal Reserve, which is helmed by Jerome Powell, the other key individual.

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Breakfast and lunch she ate alone, for the men were out in the dories and Captain Strøm stayed at the helm, poring over the sea charts.

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